Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: India’s former minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar reacted to devastating US wildfires in Los Angeles, causing $52-57b losses, claiming lives, and destroying 1,000-plus structures, according to a report carried by Hindustan Times.
A massive wildfire has engulfed the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, California, driven by powerful winds and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The disaster, which has consumed some of the most affluent neighbourhoods near Santa Monica and Malibu, has drawn international attention due to its scale and economic impact.
Former Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar weighed in on the tragedy, taking to X to express his thoughts. Responding to a post by conservative American commentator Benny Johnson, who shared an image of the devastation and wrote, “Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles is completely gone,” Chandrasekhar remarked, “This is California – a USD 4.8 trillion economic powerhouse state, in the world’s biggest economy USA.”
According to a preliminary financial assessment reported by Bloomberg, the Los Angeles wildfire could become one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history. AccuWeather estimates the damage and economic losses to range between $52 billion and $57 billion, affecting areas with median home values exceeding $2 million.
Driven by hurricane-force Santa Ana winds, the flames have continued to advance, threatening to destroy even more properties. Experts warn that the long-term impact may extend beyond property damage, with potential health hazards from toxic smoke and a likely blow to the region’s tourism industry.
