Himachal Pradesh has been declared a "disaster-hit" state as relentless cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides have caused widespread destruction, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced in the state Assembly on Monday. With damages estimated at a staggering Rs 3,560 crore, the state is grappling with crippled infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and water and power supply systems.

In a massive rescue effort, 10,000 of the 15,000 pilgrims stranded on the Manimahesh Yatra route in Chamba district have been safely evacuated. The chief minister, who conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas, said relief operations are in full swing. The 25 km Chamba-Bharmour National Highway and Chamba-Salooni-Padri-Jot road have been reopened, allowing pilgrims from Jammu and Srinagar to be rerouted.

Sukhu detailed ongoing efforts, noting that the Kullu-Mandi National Highway is being restored, and farmers' produce stranded on roads is being transported via Kullu. Power has been restored in most areas, telecommunications are back online in Kullu, and mobile networks are being revived in the tribal Lahaul-Spiti district. Indian Air Force helicopters have airdropped rations in Keylong and airlifted five patients, including a child and a pregnant woman, for urgent medical care.

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The Lahaul-Rohtang-Manali route is now operational, with cooked food, dry rations, blankets, and sleeping bags being distributed to those in need. The Thirot powerhouse in Lahaul-Spiti is back online, and the Border Roads Organisation is addressing land subsidence at Gompathang Nallah.

However, the crisis has not been without tragedy. Sukhu confirmed that 16 pilgrims have lost their lives in the Manimahesh Yatra since August 15, with four more bodies recently recovered from Kugti village, located at 8,500 feet. Twenty porters have been deployed to retrieve the deceased.

Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur raised concerns about conflicting reports, citing newspaper claims of deaths and questioning the exact number of evacuees. He highlighted that around 500 pilgrims, unable to walk, remain stranded in Bharmour, urging the government to prioritise road connectivity, food, and utility restoration.

In a show of unity, Sukhu thanked former chief minister Shanta Kumar for appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a Rs 20,000 crore relief package to aid the beleaguered state. As Himachal Pradesh battles this catastrophe, the focus remains on rescuing the remaining pilgrims and rebuilding the shattered infrastructure.

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