Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to flood-ravaged areas of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab on Tuesday to assess disaster response and rehabilitation measures after heavy monsoon rains triggered severe floods and landslides across northern India.
According to official sources, the Prime Minister will first reach Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, at about 1:30 PM, where he will likely carry out an aerial survey of the worst-affected zones, subject to weather conditions.
Later in Dharamshala, he will preside over a high-level review meeting.
Senior officials from the state administration, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local Aapda Mitra volunteers will brief him on rescue and relief efforts.
He will also interact with people impacted by the disaster.
Following his engagements in Himachal, PM Modi will fly to Gurdaspur, Punjab, around 4:15 PM, after conducting another aerial survey of the state’s flood-hit regions.
In Gurdaspur, he will chair a review meeting with administrative and disaster management officials and meet local residents affected by the deluge.
The BJP has stated that the Prime Minister’s visit is intended to ‘closely monitor relief and rehabilitation efforts’ and ensure ‘all necessary central support’ for those affected in both states.
Meanwhile, ahead of the visit, Punjab Cabinet Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) State President Aman Arora criticised the Prime Minister, urging him to announce a relief package of at least Rs 20,000 crore.
He also called for the immediate release of Rs 60,000 crore in pending funds, including Rs 50,000 crore in GST compensation and Rs 8,000 crore under Rural and Market Development Funds, accusing the Centre of neglect.
Arora added that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has already written multiple times to the Union government seeking urgent assistance for relief and the rebuilding of damaged infrastructure.
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