Monsoon Havoc: Himachal Pradesh Reels Under Rs 1,500 Crore Losses
88 Dead, Roads Blocked in Relentless Rains
Himachal Pradesh has been battered by a relentless monsoon since June 20, incurring losses exceeding Rs 1,500 crore, officials reported. The state has faced 42 flash floods, 25 cloudbursts, and 32 landslides, resulting in 88 deaths and 35 missing persons, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC). Additionally, 1,316 houses have been damaged, either fully or partially.
The local Met office issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning in Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla districts for Tuesday. In the past 24 hours, Dharamshala recorded 35 mm of rain, followed by Malraon (26.4 mm), Kangra (26 mm), and other areas. Thunderstorms struck Sundernagar, Shimla, Murari Devi, and Jubbarhatti.
The deluge has disrupted infrastructure, closing nearly 200 roads, including two national highways. Mandi district alone saw 131 roads, including the Manali-Kotali road (NH-70), shut due to cloudbursts on June 30. National Highway 305 (Sainj to Aut) remains blocked at Kekhsu and Jhed in Kullu due to landslides. Additionally, 75 power transformers and 97 water supply schemes have been affected.
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Temperatures remained stable, with Kukumseri recording the lowest at 12.8°C and Una the highest at 35.6°C. Authorities are prioritizing rescue and restoration efforts as the monsoon continues to wreak havoc, with warnings of further heavy rainfall.
