Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed the formation of a multi-sectoral central team in view of the rising frequency and intensity of natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh, an official statement said on Sunday (July 20, 2025).

The team will include experts from the National Disaster Management Authority, Central Building Research Institute Roorkee, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology Pune, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, and geologists, the statement said.

At a recent review meeting chaired by Mr. Shah, it was observed that the State has witnessed an increase in incidents of cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides, and torrential rainfall, resulting in significant loss of life, widespread damage to infrastructure and livelihoods, and environmental degradation.

In light of the current monsoon season and incidents of floods, flash floods, and landslides reported in different parts of Himachal Pradesh, the Central government has already deputed an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) in advance for on-the-spot assessment, without waiting for a formal memorandum from the State. The IMCT is currently visiting the affected areas, the statement added.

Further, a high-level committee chaired by Mr. Shah has approved an outlay of ₹2,006.40 crore for Himachal Pradesh for recovery and reconstruction in areas impacted by disasters such as floods, landslides, and cloudbursts during 2023. Of this, the first instalment of ₹451.44 crore was released on July 7.