BJP MP Ranaut says she hasn't visited Mandi on Jai Ram Thakur's 'advise'; Cong takes jibe
Shimla, Jul 4 (PTI): The ruling Congress on Friday took a dig at the BJP over Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut's comment that she has not visited cloudburst affected areas of Mandi on the "advise" of her party's leader Jai Ram Thakur, saying the leader of opposition in Himachal Pradesh was "getting angry".
As many as 43 lives were lost in the hill state, of which 14 died in cloudbursts, eight in flash floods, one in a landslide, and seven were drowned. The most deaths, 17, were reported in the Mandi district, where 10 instances of cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides wreaked havoc on Tuesday.
In a post on X on Friday, Ranaut said, "It is heartbreaking to see massive flood devastation in Himachal almost every year now. I tried reaching the flood-affected areas in Seraj and other areas in Mandi, but was advised by the respected Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur to wait until the connectivity to the affected areas is restored."
"Red alert is issued by Mandi DC today as well. Awaiting authorities' approval on the same; will be there soonest possible," she said.
In another post, the actor-politician said, "I am on my way to Himachal Pradesh. I will be visiting the affected areas soon. Please be rest assured I stand with Himachal Pradesh in every situation. Jai Hind."
Her remarks came a day after Thakur, the leader of the opposition in the state assembly, sought to parry questions about the absence of the BJP's Mandi MP Ranaut from the calamity-hit region, saying, "We are concerned about the locals, and we live and die for them. Cannot comment on those who are not."
Latching on to the remark, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday asked Ranaut to speak to Thakur and said the leader of the opposition was "getting angry".
On Thursday, Thakur addressed a press conference in Mandi and lamented that the two decades of development works in his Seraj constituency have been ruined in the calamity, and it would take years to get restored.
Nachan, Karsog, Drang, Dharampur, Mandi constituencies and the adjoining areas have suffered colossal losses, he had said and urged the government to take up the relief, rescue and restoration work on a war footing.
It is heartbreaking to see massive flood devastation in Himachal almost every year now, I tried reaching to flood affected areas in Seraj and other areas in Mandi, but advised by respected leader of opposition Shri @jairamthakurbjp ji to wait untill the connectivity and reach to…
— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) July 4, 2025
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Bridge collapse in Jammu: 3 bodies, 1 injured pulled out from rubble; probe ordered
Jammu (PTI): Rescue workers pulled out three bodies and an injured person from the debris of a partially collapsed old bridge during a 12-hour search operation on the outskirts of Jammu, officials said on Saturday.
One injured worker was rescued on Friday, shortly after a portion of the bridge collapsed in the Thuther area of Bantalab.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary rushed to the spot at midnight and ordered the suspension of two engineers. The government has also constituted a committee to probe the incident.
According to the officials, labourers were carrying out retaining wall and foundation-laying work on the bridge, which was damaged in flash floods last year, when a portion of it gave way, trapping four of them.
Police, Army, National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, and fire and emergency department immediately launched a rescue operation. The rescue teams first pulled out a labourer, who was identified as Tarsem Lal, the officials said.
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"The search and rescue operation concluded this morning. Three bodies have been recovered from the spot. Two others have been rescued in injured condition," a senior officer told PTI.
The bodies were recovered during the 12-hour search operation, which went on through the night under floodlights, the officials said.
Among the two injured was Divisional Fire Officer, Fire and Emergency Services Department, Mohammad Jaffar, who was hit by a boulder during the rescue operation. The injured have been hospitalised.
Deputy Chief Minister Choudhary was briefed about the incident after he reached the spot at midnight.
"I have ordered the suspension of the assistant executive engineer and the junior engineer. I have also issued directions to the engineer-in-chief for attachment of the executive engineer," he told reporters at the spot.
Choudhary ordered a probe into the incident and directed the authorities to complete it in five days.
Following his order, Assistant Executive Engineer Sahil Verma and Junior Engineer Sajad Mir were placed under suspension, pending inquiry into their conduct, the officials said.
The government has also constituted a three-member inquiry committee headed by Purshotam Kumar, Secretary Technical (Engineer-in-Chief), Public Works (R&B) Department, they said.
Superintendent Engineer, Public Works (R&B), Circle Jammu South, Arit Gupta, and Executive Engineer, Public Works (R&B) Satwari division, Rajan Mengi are members of the panel, they said.
