Shimla: The relentless monsoon this year has plunged Himachal Pradesh into one of its worst crises in recent memory, with the state disaster management authority (SDMA) reporting loss of 310 lives since 20 June and the revenue minister estimating damages worth more than Rs 3,000 crore due to heavy rainfall and floods.
Of the deaths, 158 were attributed to weather-related incidents, including landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, drowning, lightning strikes and electrocution, while 152 fatalities resulted from accidents due to slippery roads, poor visibility, and landslide debris.
The tourist town of Manali has borne the brunt of the latest spell of rains, with hotels and houses washed away and the Chandigarh-Leh Highway severely damaged at multiple points.
Widespread destruction was caused Monday and Tuesday in Kullu, Mandi, parts of Kangra, Hamirpur, Una, Shimla, and Kinnaur districts following a red alert. Educational institutions in several districts were shut for both days.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued the red alert for Kangra, Chamba, and Lahaul and Spiti districts Tuesday, warning of intense to very intense rainfall in isolated areas, with an orange alert for Kullu, Mandi, Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Solan, and Shimla, and a yellow alert for other regions.
In Kullu-Manali, the Beas river, swollen by relentless rainfall, wreaked havoc, washing away a multi-storey hotel and four shops in Manali in the early hours Tuesday. The raging waters further inundated Aloo Ground and blocked the Manali-Leh Highway at multiple points.
A 3-km stretch of National Highway-3 was swept away, and a footbridge near Dawara was consumed by the river’s currents. In Mandi’s Bali Chowki area, two buildings housing approximately 40 shops collapsed late Monday, though no casualties were reported as the structures were evacuated in time. Water also entered residential areas in Kullu.
The situation was particularly dire near Thalout, between Kullu and Mandi, where NH-3 was closed as the Beas flowed above the highway at several points, rendering restoration efforts ineffective.
Speaking to the media, Kullu deputy commissioner Torul S. Raveesh said continuous rainfall had damaged the national highway at multiple points, with 130 roads shut in Kullu alone and over 900 roads obstructed statewide. Additionally, 956 power transformers and 517 water supply schemes have been disrupted, with numbers expected to rise.
“Because of continuous rainfall, our national highway has been damaged at many points. The water level is very high. I request everyone to avoid unnecessary travel and stay safe. Some areas were evacuated yesterday and some areas are being evacuated as we speak. All our officers are on the field,” he said.
Speaking to ThePrint, state revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi said: “Himachal Pradesh has suffered damages worth over Rs 3,000 crore due to heavy rain, floods, and related devastation, with assessments still underway.”
Former chief minister Jairam Thakur targeted the state government, saying it was in disaster mode, not disaster management. “Thousands of livestock have perished, homes have collapsed and connectivity lost in several districts,” he told the media, accusing the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government of “failing” to manage the situation.
The IMD has forecast continued rainfall for Himachal until next Monday, with orange alerts for heavy rain over the weekend. According to IMD official Sandeep Kumar Sharma, more rain is expected in the next 24 hours, raising fears of further devastation.
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Heavy toll
The SDMA data highlights the staggering toll of the monsoon. Mandi reported 29 rain-related deaths, followed by Kangra (30), Chamba (14), Kinnaur (14), and Kullu (13). Landslides and flash floods claimed at least 19 lives, while drowning accounted for 33 deaths, with electrocution and other rain-linked mishaps causing significant fatalities.
Road accidents were particularly deadly in Chamba and Mandi (22 deaths each), Kangra (19), Solan (16), and Shimla (15), with additional fatalities in Bilaspur (7), Kinnaur (14), Kullu (13), and other districts.
Infrastructure and livelihoods have been decimated, with loss to public property estimated in crores. Private property losses are also extensive, with 324 houses fully damaged, 396 partially damaged, and thousands of shops, cowsheds, and other structures affected. The monsoon disaster has also claimed over 1,846 heads of livestock and 25,755 poultry birds, severely impacting rural livelihoods.
Restoration work is being carried out on a war footing, but intermittent heavy rain and recurring landslides continue to hinder operations. Relief camps have been established to provide food, shelter, and medical aid to displaced families, while the SDMA continues to appeal to residents in vulnerable areas to remain on high alert.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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