S. Harjot Singh Bains, Cabinet Minister for Education and Information & Public Relations, Punjab, said that the heavy rains in Tarhksaar, Himachal Pradesh on September 18 have caused major damage to this area. The Minister said that during his visit to the villages today, he saw that the road network has been completely broken down.
Due to the rise in water levels in the streams, people have been badly affected. Children are unable to go to school and patients are facing hardships in accessing medical treatment. S. Bains said that just yesterday, approval was received for the construction of two bridges—one in Daboorh for 1.01 crore and another in Upper Daboorh for 70 lakh.
Tenders for both projects will be issued next week. These projects will permanently resolve the 70-year-old connectivity problem of villages in the Changar area. He further stated that approval has also been granted for the construction of culverts worth 8 crore, and work on this will commence soon.
He added that during heavy rains, streams in this area often overflow. Today, due to excessive water flow in the streams of Mangeval, Daboorh, and Lohand, crops and livestock have suffered heavy losses.
S. Bains said that earlier he had visited villages such as Aaspur and Aalowal, where relief work has already been initiated. He assured that a special girdawari (survey of damages) will be conducted in Daboorh and other affected areas, and compensation will be provided at the earliest.
He added that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab government has already promised compensation of 20,000 per acre for damaged crops, whereas no assistance of any kind has been received from the central government so far. S. Bains also said that the losses to houses and livestock are being assessed.
Along with government compensation, immediate relief is also being arranged with the support of local friends, well-wishers, team members, volunteers, groups, and other residents so that help reaches the needy without delay. On this occasion, Block President Tarlochan Singh Lochi, Truck Union President, Dr. Jarnail Singh AAP leader, Varinder Singh AAP youth leader), Bindu Mazher, Veer Chand, Gurinder Singh, Rajinder Singh, Jujhar Singh Dabor, Jarnail Singh , and a large number of prominent locals were present.
They thanked Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains for always standing with the people in times of natural calamities and for understanding the pain and hardships of the region’s residents.