Key Points

The monsoon season in Himachal Pradesh has resulted in 366 fatalities with massive infrastructure damage. Mandi district recorded the highest death toll followed by Kangra and Chamba. Continuous rainfall has caused prolonged disruption of essential services in remote areas. Prime Minister Modi will visit on September 9 to assess the damage and recovery efforts.

Key Points: Himachal Pradesh Monsoon Death Toll Reaches 366 as PM Modi Visits

  • 203 deaths from rain-related incidents including landslides and flash floods
  • 163 fatalities caused by monsoon road accidents across the state
  • Rs 4,080 crore in total losses to property, crops and infrastructure
  • 5,284 roads damaged with severe disruption to essential services
2 min read

Himachal Pradesh monsoon toll rises to 366; 203 rain-related, 163 in road accidents: SDMA

Himachal Pradesh monsoon claims 366 lives with Rs 4,080 crore in losses. PM Modi to visit Sept 9 as landslides and road accidents devastate infrastructure.

"Restoration work is ongoing, but repeated landslides and road blockages are slowing progress - SDMA Official"

Shimla, September 7

The ongoing monsoon season in Himachal Pradesh has claimed 366 lives, including 203 in rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods, drowning, lightning strikes and other weather-triggered disasters, and 163 in road accidents, according to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).

Since June 20, the hill state has witnessed widespread destruction. A total of Rs 4,08,097.49 lakh of losses have been reported, covering damage to public and private property, crops, livestock, and infrastructure.

Public infrastructure has been severely hit -- 5,284 roads damaged, 2,743 water supply schemes and 2,518.54 lakh worth of power infrastructure affected. Schools, health centres, rural and urban development projects, and agriculture have also suffered heavy losses.

District-wise, Mandi has recorded the highest human toll with 37 rain-related deaths and 22 in road accidents, followed by Kangra (31 rain-related, 19 accident deaths) and Chamba (21 rain-related, 22 accident deaths). Kinnaur reported a disproportionately high number of accident fatalities (14) compared to its population.

In rain-related causes, landslides accounted for 42 deaths, flash floods for 9, cloudbursts for 17, drowning for 34, and the rest were due to lightning, fires, snakebites, avalanches, electrocutions, and falls from steep slopes or trees.

An SDMA spokesperson said continuous rainfall has not only caused direct loss of life and property but also led to prolonged disruption of essential services, particularly in remote and high-altitude areas.

"Restoration work is ongoing, but repeated landslides and road blockages are slowing progress," the official said.

Authorities have urged residents to follow advisories, avoid travel on vulnerable stretches, and stay alert for sudden weather changes as the monsoon continues.

Earlier in the day, BJP leader and former chief minister Jairam Thakur said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Himachal Pradesh on September 9 to take stock of the loss of life and property due to heavy rainfall in the state.

"Day after tomorrow, the Prime Minister is coming to Himachal Pradesh to take stock of the loss of life and property due to the heavy rainfall here. I will also go to Dharamshala to attend that meeting and brief him about the situation here," Thakur, the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, told ANI.

Prime Minister Modi will also visit Punjab on September 9 to take stock of the flood situation.

Himachal Pradesh, grappling with the relentless monsoon, continues to face significant disruptions to public utilities, with hundreds of roads, power transformers, and water schemes affected.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The loss of life is devastating. While PM's visit is welcome, we need long-term solutions, not just photo ops. Himachal's ecology is fragile and climate change is making things worse every year.
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Aman W
Just returned from Shimla last week. The road conditions are terrifying! People are risking their lives just to get basic supplies. Authorities must improve early warning systems.
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Sarah B
The economic losses are staggering - over 4000 crores! This will take years to recover from. Hope the relief packages reach the actual affected people and not get stuck in bureaucracy.
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Vikram M
We need better disaster preparedness in hilly states. Every year same story repeats. Why can't we learn from countries like Japan that handle earthquakes and landslides much better?
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Nisha Z
My heart goes out to all affected families. The number of road accident deaths is particularly alarming. People should avoid unnecessary travel during such conditions. Stay safe everyone! 🙏

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