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Uttarakhand seeks 5,702 crore relief package from centre to tackle monsoon damage

In a memorandum sent to the union home ministry, state disaster management and rehabilitation secretary Vinod Kumar Suman outlined the extent of damage

Published on: Sep 04, 2025 06:25 PM IST
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Dehradun: The Uttarakhand government has sought a special economic package of 5,702.15 crore from the centre to compensate for the losses caused by this year’s monsoon and to strengthen vulnerable infrastructure against future natural disasters.

The public works department and rural roads sustained the maximum damage, amounting to nearly  ₹1,163.84 crore, while irrigation structures suffered losses of  ₹266.65 crore. (Representative photo)
The public works department and rural roads sustained the maximum damage, amounting to nearly ₹1,163.84 crore, while irrigation structures suffered losses of ₹266.65 crore. (Representative photo)

In a memorandum sent to the union home ministry, state disaster management and rehabilitation secretary Vinod Kumar Suman outlined the extent of damage and the urgent requirement for central assistance, officials aware of the development said.

The memorandum, also addressed to the additional secretary, disaster management division, ministry of home affairs, said that government departments have suffered direct losses worth 1,944.15 crore due to landslides, flash floods, heavy rains, and related calamities between April 1 and August 31 this year.

The public works department and rural roads sustained the maximum damage, amounting to nearly 1,163.84 crore, while irrigation structures suffered losses of 266.65 crore.

Also Read: Uttarakhand rains: Bridge washed away in Chamoli, 216 roads closed

The state has sought 1,944.15 crore for the reconstruction and recovery of damaged infrastructure, with an additional 3,758 crore to stabilise vulnerable assets, roads, bridges, populated areas, and other public infrastructure that remain at risk of further destruction.

“This support is critical to ensure that the impact of recurring disasters on Uttarakhand is minimized and large-scale losses are avoided,” said Suman.

The state has also recorded significant human and livestock losses during the ongoing monsoon. Between April 1 and August 31, 79 people lost their lives, 115 were injured, and 90 remain missing, official figures show. In addition, nearly 3,953 livestock perished in rain-related incidents.

Also read: Uttarakhand rains: Over 300 roads blocked, orange alert for seven districts

Housing and commercial establishments like shops, hotels, homestays, restaurants have been hit hard, with 2,835 concrete houses and 402 temporary houses have been severely damaged, the memorandum said.

The state has recorded 25% above-normal rainfall this monsoon season since June 1, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). From June 1 to September 3, Uttarakhand received 1,265.5 mm of rain against a normal of 1,009.5 mm. Several districts have seen large deviations. Bageshwar reported the highest excess at 249%, recording 2,370.2 mm against the normal of 679.2 mm. Chamoli saw 91% excess, Tehri Garhwal 59%, and Haridwar 55%. Almora (36%), Dehradun (32%), and Udham Singh Nagar (33%) also logged significant surpluses.

The widespread excess rainfall has led to flooding, landslides, and rising water levels in rivers across the state. Authorities continued issuing advisories, urging residents in vulnerable areas to remain cautious.

Officials said the memorandum has listed both immediate and long-term needs, combining relief, rehabilitation, and resilience-building. “The demand package is not only for recovery but also to prevent further erosion of critical infrastructure and protect communities living in disaster-prone zones,” an official said.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neeraj Santoshi

Neeraj Santoshi is the Chief of Bureau for Hindustan Times in Uttarakhand, where he leads the state reporting team while covering government, politics, environment, wildlife, Uttarakhand High Court, and issues shaping the Himalayan region. With more than two decades in journalism across conflict zones, he has covered politically sensitive regions and environmentally fragile landscapes, and focused on stories that combine public interest with in-depth storytelling. An alumnus of Pune University with a Master’s in Communication Studies, he has reported extensively from Jammu & Kashmir (2003-2010), Madhya Pradesh (2010 to 2018 ) and Uttarakhand (Since 2018), covering subjects ranging from insurgency, elections and governance to wildlife conservation, mining, climate change, agriculture, human rights and social justice. He has covered politics and legislative assemblies of both Jammu & Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh over more than a decade. Before taking over as Chief of Bureau in Uttarakhand, he served as Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times in Madhya Pradesh and earlier reported for both Hindustan Times and The Indian Express in Jammu & Kashmir, where he covered state politics, environment and insurgency-related developments. Over the years, his stories have focused on environmental degradation, wildlife, illegal mining, governance and the changing social fabric of Himalayan states and Central India. He is particularly interested in long-form explanatory journalism, and stories that explore the intersection of ecology, conservation, governance and society. Outside the newsroom, Neeraj enjoys reading widely on neuroscience, consciousness studies, Artificial Intelligence and quantum physics, with a special interest in Kashmiri Tantric Shaivist traditions. He is also passionate about wildlife, mountaineering and the Himalayas, interests that continue to inform his reporting and deepen his understanding of the region he covers.

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.
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