Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Dehradun on Thursday to conduct an aerial survey of disaster-affected districts in Uttarakhand, which have been battered by heavy rains, cloudbursts, and landslides this monsoon.
After the survey, Modi reportedly announced a Rs 1,200-crore assistance package for the flood-hit Uttarakhand.
After surveying the disaster-ravaged regions across multiple districts, the Prime Minister will return to Jolly Grant Airport, where he is scheduled to chair a high-level meeting to review the relief and rehabilitation measures before leaving for Delhi, officials said.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami received Modi at the airport and later posted on social media, “The prime minister’s presence in the midst of the affected people at this difficult time of disaster shows his sensitivity towards them.”
The affected areas include Dharali-Harsil in Uttarkashi, Tharali in Chamoli, Chenagad in Rudraprayag, Sainji in Pauri, Kapkot in Bageshwar, and several parts of Nainital district.
Toll and Government Response
According to official estimates, natural disasters in Uttarakhand since April this year have claimed 85 lives, injured 128 people, and left 94 missing. Modi’s visit follows an inter-ministerial team from the Centre that recently toured the affected areas to assess the scale of damage.
The Prime Minister arrived in Uttarakhand from Varanasi, where he met his Mauritian counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam. Earlier this week, he also reviewed the flood situation in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, where he announced ₹1,600 crore in assistance for Punjab in addition to the ₹12,000 crore already allocated to the state.
