Himachal monsoon: 70 dead, 204 roads blocked, Rs 910 cr damage

Heavy monsoon rains in Himachal Pradesh have claimed 70 lives and caused over Rs 910 crore in damages over 43 days. As of August 11, 204 roads remain blocked, and power and water supply infrastructure has been severely disrupted.

Heavy monsoon rains continued to disrupt life across Himachal Pradesh, with 70 people losing their lives and 204 roads remaining blocked in rain-related disasters and cumulative damage to public property crossing Rs 910 crore over the past 43 days, according to the official report.

The latest data from State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) covering the period from June 30 to August 11 reflected the extensive impact of the monsoon across the hill state, with roads, power infrastructure, water supply systems and private property bearing the brunt of repeated heavy rainfall, landslides, cloudbursts and other weather-related incidents.

Infrastructure Crippled by Rains

As many as 204 roads are currently blocked across the state, including two national highways, NH-154 and NH-21. Mandi is the worst affected district, with 80 roads closed. The key Mandi-Kullu route has also been disrupted at Jalogi Dwada. Kullu has reported 56 blocked roads, while 23 roads remain closed in Sirmaur. The continuing road closures have disrupted inter-district connectivity and posed challenges for the movement of essential supplies and emergency response teams.

The monsoon has also affected the state's power and drinking water infrastructure. A total of 45 Distribution Transformer Regions (DTRs) are currently out of service. Sirmaur accounts for 41 of these disruptions, all in the Nahan subdivision. According to the data, around 82 water supply schemes have also been affected across Himachal Pradesh. Sirmaur has reported the highest number of disrupted schemes at 31, followed by Hamirpur with 11 and Mandi with eight. Restoration of electricity and water supply remains a priority for authorities in the affected areas.

Heavy Human Toll

Direct Disaster-Related Deaths

According to the SEOC data, 70 people have died in direct disaster-related incidents during the 43-day period from June 30 to August 11. Landslides accounted for 14 deaths, while 23 people died after falling from steep slopes, rocks or trees. Seven deaths were attributed to snake bites, six to electrocution and four to cloudbursts. Lahaul and Spiti recorded the highest number of direct disaster-related deaths at 14, followed by Kangra with 12.

Spike in Road Accident Fatalities

In addition to direct disaster fatalities, 93 people have died in road accidents during the period. Chamba recorded the highest number of road accident deaths at 16, followed by Kullu with 13, Sirmaur with 12 and Shimla with 11. The figures underline the wider human toll associated with the monsoon, particularly in a state where damaged roads, landslides and difficult terrain significantly increase travel risks.

Economic Impact Exceeds ₹910 Crore

Moreover, the cumulative damage to public property has risen to approximately ₹910.35 crore, according to the latest official assessment. The Public Works Department has suffered the largest share of the losses, with damage estimated at ₹68,636.43 lakh. The power sector has reported losses of ₹20,389.51 lakh. The monsoon has also caused extensive damage to houses, other private structures, livestock and crops across all 12 districts, adding to the economic burden on affected families and communities.

Restoration Efforts and Ongoing Challenges

State authorities, departmental teams and emergency response personnel are continuing restoration operations in affected areas. Efforts are focused on clearing landslides and debris, reopening blocked roads, restoring electricity and drinking water supplies and maintaining connectivity to affected habitations. However, continuing rainfall and the possibility of further landslides and weather-related incidents remain major challenges for restoration work.

The latest 43-day assessment highlights the scale of the monsoon impact on Himachal Pradesh, with the combined toll of disaster-related deaths, road accidents, infrastructure disruption and more than ₹910 crore in public property damage putting considerable pressure on the state's disaster-response and restoration machinery. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)