Modi visits flood-hit Himachal, Punjab, pledges 1,500 crore aid

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday visited flood-ravaged areas of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to review rescue and relief operations, conduct aerial surveys of heavily affected districts and announce immediate central assistance for recovery. He landed at Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, held a ground-level review with state officials and rescue teams, and later travelled to Punjab, where he chaired meetings in Gurdaspur and interacted with displaced residents and emergency personnel.

In Himachal Pradesh, Modi announced an immediate package of 1,500 crore and ordered advance releases of the second instalment of the State Disaster Response Fund and payments under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, officials said. He also declared 2 lakh ex gratia for the next of kin of those who died and 50,000 for the injured. The prime minister directed a multi-pronged reconstruction plan that included rebuilding homes under the PM-Awas Yojana, restoration of national highways and schools, relief from the PM National Relief Fund, provision of livestock support kits and construction of water recharge structures to improve groundwater and resilience, officials said.

State officials and the Prime Minister...