<p>Former deputy mayor of Shimla Municipal Corporation Tikendar Panwar on Sunday sat on a 24-hour hunger strike on Ridge Ground here, and urged introspection on Himachal Pradesh’ development model in view of the recent rain-related devastation in the state.</p>.<p>Panwar demanded an inquiry commission on the matter to be headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court to assess the flood related damages and design a new policy framework to counter it.</p>.Nadda says Centre will make all efforts to rehabilitate those displaced by heavy rains in Himachal.<p>He said the National Highway Authority of India and companies responsible for the construction of four-lane highways in the state should be prosecuted.</p>.<p>The death toll in rain-related incidents in the state has climbed to 78. Of the 78 deaths since August 13, 24 were from the three landslides in Shimla alone -- 17 at the Shiva temple in Summer Hill, five in Fagli, and two in Krishna Nagar.</p>.<p>The ex-deputy mayor said that the current disaster should be declared a national calamity. He also called for immediate mapping of the state’s vulnerabilities and water contouring, besides constituting a task force to work on mountain building typologies.</p>.<p>On Friday, the Himachal Pradesh government declared the state a 'Natural Calamity Affected Area' in view of the damage caused by heavy rains. Chief Minister Sukhu claimed that the state has suffered losses of Rs 10,000 crore.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, BJP national president J P Nadda on Sunday also stressed on long-term planning with a focus on alternative mechanisms of development to check reoccurrence of such disasters.</p>.<p>Since the onset of the monsoon in Himachal on June 24, 224 people have died in rain-related incidents in the state while 38 others are missing, according to the state emergency operation centre.</p>.<p>Besides, over 12,000 houses have been damaged completely or partially, and about 560 roads are still blocked in the state, it said.</p>
<p>Former deputy mayor of Shimla Municipal Corporation Tikendar Panwar on Sunday sat on a 24-hour hunger strike on Ridge Ground here, and urged introspection on Himachal Pradesh’ development model in view of the recent rain-related devastation in the state.</p>.<p>Panwar demanded an inquiry commission on the matter to be headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court to assess the flood related damages and design a new policy framework to counter it.</p>.Nadda says Centre will make all efforts to rehabilitate those displaced by heavy rains in Himachal.<p>He said the National Highway Authority of India and companies responsible for the construction of four-lane highways in the state should be prosecuted.</p>.<p>The death toll in rain-related incidents in the state has climbed to 78. Of the 78 deaths since August 13, 24 were from the three landslides in Shimla alone -- 17 at the Shiva temple in Summer Hill, five in Fagli, and two in Krishna Nagar.</p>.<p>The ex-deputy mayor said that the current disaster should be declared a national calamity. He also called for immediate mapping of the state’s vulnerabilities and water contouring, besides constituting a task force to work on mountain building typologies.</p>.<p>On Friday, the Himachal Pradesh government declared the state a 'Natural Calamity Affected Area' in view of the damage caused by heavy rains. Chief Minister Sukhu claimed that the state has suffered losses of Rs 10,000 crore.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, BJP national president J P Nadda on Sunday also stressed on long-term planning with a focus on alternative mechanisms of development to check reoccurrence of such disasters.</p>.<p>Since the onset of the monsoon in Himachal on June 24, 224 people have died in rain-related incidents in the state while 38 others are missing, according to the state emergency operation centre.</p>.<p>Besides, over 12,000 houses have been damaged completely or partially, and about 560 roads are still blocked in the state, it said.</p>