Natural disasters created unimaginable crises in the country: Prime Minister Modi

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort in the national capital on the 77th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed his concern over the heavy rainfall that has wreaked havoc in many states. “…This time, natural calamity has created unimaginable crises in several parts of the country. I express my sympathies to all families who faced this….” PM Modi said. In his speech, the Prime Minister gave his assurances that both the Centre and the state will help the affected families during times of crisis so they can start their life again.
Heavy rainfall has battered the northern states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, which saw deaths and destruction over the past several days. On Monday the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall for 24 hours in several parts of the two states. The Met Department raised red alerts for both the hill states which will gradually reduce to orange alert. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday said that over 50 people had lost their lives within the past 24 hours due to landslides and continuous rainfall in the area. He also expressed concerns that over 20 people are feared to be trapped under debris. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on the same day conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas in the state and also reviewed the increasing water level of the Ganga river in Rishikesh district. After the survey, CM Dhami said several places had been damaged in the last 48 hours due to incessant rains in the state, adding that the Kedarnath Yatra has been stopped for two days.
Rishikesh recorded the highest rainfall in a span of 24 hours across the country on Monday morning. Heavy rains in the State have triggered landslides and flash floods in several places, officials said. On Tuesday, before addressing the country Prime Minister Modi paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat. This is the PM’s 10th consecutive Independence Day speech since assuming office in 2014 and the last one before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Yesterday PM Modi hoisted the national flag at the Red Fort. He also took to his official handle on X, to greet countrymen on Independence Day.
“Best wishes on Independence Day. We pay homage to our great freedom fighters and reaffirm our commitment to fulfilling their vision. Jai Hind!: the Prime Minister wrote. On his arrival at the Red Fort, PM Modi was received by Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, Raksha Rajya Mantri, Ajay Bhatt, and Defence Secretary, Giridhar Aramane. This year’s Independence Day will culminate the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations, which were launched by Prime Minister Modi from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on March 12, 2021, and will usher the country into ‘Amrit Kaal’. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday informed that over 50 people have lost their lives within the past 24 hours due to landslides and continuous rainfall in the area.