Himachal monsoon fury: 70 disaster deaths in 43 days, 204 roads blocked; damage crosses ₹910 crore
Shimla, August 12
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Reader Comments
Its sad that every year the same thing happens. We always say "monsoon fury" but never talk about the unchecked construction and deforestation in the hills. Until we respect the mountains, they will keep reminding us. My heart goes out to the families who lost loved ones.
I visited Himachal last summer and was amazed by its beauty. It's painful to see this happening. The Rs 910 crore damage is massive for a hill state with limited resources. I hope the central government steps in with adequate relief funds and not just promises.
The Mandi-Kullu route being cut off is scary. Basic things like vegetables and medicines will be stuck. But I also wonder about the snake bite deaths — 7 people? That seems unusual. Are we tracking these properly or are these just numbers in a report? 🤔
As someone from Shimla, I can tell you the real situation is worse than what's in the article. Roads are sliding, power cuts are routine, and people are scared. But the administration is doing what it can with limited resources. We need more weather-proof infrastructure and early warning systems. This is climate change staring at us.
Respectfully, I think the government must be more transparent about the total damage including private property. Rs 910 crore is only public property. What about the farmers who lost crops, the families who lost homes? They need compensation too. Also, 93 road accident deaths — those are preventable. We need better guardrails on hilly roads.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.