Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the 125th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann ki Baat on Sunday, expressed deep anguish over the widespread devastation caused by floods, landslides, and heavy rains across several states, saying these disasters have “brought grief to every Indian.”
Highlighting the destruction caused during the ongoing monsoon, PM Modi said the country is being “tested” by natural calamities that have left homes destroyed, fields submerged, and families shattered.
“In the last few weeks, we have witnessed massive havoc caused by floods and landslides. Homes torn apart, fields submerged, entire families destroyed. The relentless surge of water swept away bridges, roads got washed away, and lives were in danger. These incidents have saddened every Indian. The pain of the families who lost their loved ones is shared by all of us,” he said.
The Prime Minister praised the efforts of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), armed forces, and other personnel who have been working round the clock in rescue and relief missions. He noted that technology such as thermal cameras, live detectors, drones, and sniffer dogs had been deployed to speed up rescue operations, while helicopters were used to deliver relief material and airlift the injured.
“I heartily thank every citizen, security force member, doctor, social worker, and volunteer who prioritized humanity in these difficult times,” PM Modi added.
Union Minister JP Nadda listened to the address in Mumbai, while BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar participated in the programme in Delhi.
The monsoon has caused severe destruction across states including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
On August 26, a massive landslide near the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra (Reasi district, J&K) killed over 30 people and left 20 injured. In Himachal Pradesh, torrential rains have blocked more than 500 roads and disrupted over 1,100 power transformers, while the state’s death toll from landslides, flash floods, and house collapses has risen to 310.
