NEW DELHI: The planned dinner meetings of NDA MPs with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president JP Nadda have been cancelled in view of floods in Punjab and other parts of India.
The NDA MPs, who were asked to be gathered in the national capital by Saturday in view of the upcoming Vice-Presidential election, will not have the planned dinner programme at the Prime Minister’s official residence in New Delhi on September 8, sources said.
The NDA MPs’ other dinner parties, which were to be held at BJP national president’s house on Saturday and Sunday have also been cancelled.
On September 9, members of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha cast their votes to elect the next Vice-President of India.
Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu has expressed deep anguish over the devastation caused by heavy rains, cloudbursts and floods across north India, saying the monsoon fury has left behind a trail of “death and destruction” in several states.
“I have been deeply anguished every time I have come to know about natural calamities during the monsoon this year. Cloudbursts in the hills and floods in the plains have taken a heavy toll, leaving death and destruction in their wake in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Assam and many other parts of the country,” President Murmu said in a post on X on Friday.
She extended solidarity with those affected and praised officials engaged in rescue and relief efforts.
“The nation shares the sorrow of the people affected by calamities and is with them in this crisis. I commend the spirit of those involved in the rescue and relief operations. Together we will overcome this challenge,” the President added.
In Punjab, the flood-related death toll rose to 43, as per the state’s Department of Information and Public Relations. The state has also confirmed widespread damage to crops and property, with nearly 3 lakh hectares of farmland under water.
Himachal Pradesh has reported over 300 rain-related deaths this year.
Meanwhile, the Yamuna in Delhi has crossed the danger mark, forcing evacuations of people from flood-prone areas.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), between September 1 and 5, the national capital received 719.5 mm of rain, Punjab 581.4 mm, Himachal 948 mm, Jammu and Kashmir 687.3 mm, and Assam 826.6 mm.
Agencies