Spike in cloudbursts linked to enhanced evaporation from reservoirs, says Himachal CM
Shimla, July 10
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Friday said that increasing cloudbursts in the state have been linked to climate change and enhanced evaporation from reservoirs created by large dams.
He said that owing to spike in natural calamities, the government has decided to develop disaster resilience infrastructure with an estimated outlay of Rs 3,500 crore that would help strengthen the capacity to withstand disasters and minimise losses.
Speaking at the valedictory session of the workshop "Towards Resilience Infrastructure Planning in the Western Himalaya", here, the Chief Minister said Himachal Pradesh, being a mountainous state with difficult geographical conditions, has become increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters.
Recalling the devastating disaster of 2023, he said nearly 75,000 tourists were stranded across the state. The government, with coordinated efforts, ensured the safe evacuation of the stranded tourists and restored essential services on a war footing. He also appreciated the efforts of Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi and legislator Sanjay Awasthi, who personally led the rescue operation to evacuate around 300 stranded tourists from the high-altitude lake, Chandratal.
The Chief Minister said the 2023 disaster damaged around 23,000 houses completely and claimed 51 lives. Standing firmly with the affected families, the government introduced historic changes in the relief policy by increasing compensation for fully damaged houses from Rs 1.30 lakh to Rs 8 lakh.
He said that the lessons learnt from the 2023 disaster enabled the government to respond much more effectively during the 2025 disaster, resulting in comparatively lower losses despite the severity of the situation.
"While Himachal Pradesh is currently facing the challenge of climate change", he said other states "are also likely to experience similar impacts in the coming years". He emphasised that addressing such challenges would require bold policy decisions and necessary changes in development practices.
The government, he said, was fully prepared to take such decisions in the larger public interest to mitigate the losses.
Chief Secretary K.K. Pant said climate change has emerged as a major challenge.
The disasters of 2023 and 2025 had caused extensive damage to infrastructure and resulted in the loss of precious lives.
He said the government's objective is not merely to reconstruct damaged infrastructure but to build resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding future climate challenges.
The Chief Secretary also emphasised the importance of institutional capacity building for effective disaster management.
Former Member of NITI Aayog Dr V.K. Paul said that while Himachal Pradesh has always faced unique developmental challenges due to its terrain, the impacts of global warming have further intensified these challenges. He called for a multi-dimensional policy approach involving all stakeholders, stating that disaster resilience cannot be achieved by any single department or institution alone.
Referring to the 2023 disaster as a wake-up call, he said timely and decisive action is essential to develop resilient infrastructure and minimise future loss of life and property.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see the CM acknowledging climate change openly. But raising compensation from 1.3 lakh to 8 lakh is still too little when you've lost everything. A house in Himachal costs at least 20-25 lakh to rebuild. We need comprehensive insurance schemes, not just relief.
I was there during the 2023 floods near Manali. The way locals and even tourists helped each other was incredible. But we can't rely on heroism forever. Need proper early warning systems and strict construction bans on riverbanks. The concrete jungle is making things worse. 🌊
While I appreciate the 3,500 crore plan, I hope it's not another white elephant project. Need to see detailed breakdown - how much for early warning systems, how much for retrofitting old buildings, how much for afforestation. Transparency is key. Also, why no mention of banning single-use plastic in eco-sensitive zones?
Climate change is global, but the impact is local. I've worked in disaster management in several countries, and HP's geography is uniquely challenging. The CM is right about other states needing to learn from these experiences. The entire Himalayan region is a ticking time bomb if we don't adapt quickly.
As a resident of Shimla, I've seen the changes firsthand. We used to have predictable monsoon patterns. Now it's either drought or cloudburst. But the real issue is unchecked tourism - too many hotels, too many vehicles on narrow roads. We need sustainable tourism policies, not just disaster relief. 🏔️🌿
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