In less than a month, 31 people lost their lives in 51 incidents of flash floods amid the ongoing monsoon season in Himachal Pradesh, stated the State Emergency Operation Centre. Monsoon in the state began on June 27.
Meanwhile, 33 individuals are still missing. The highest number of 22 incidents have been reported in Lahaul and Spiti, followed by 11 in Kinnaur, 6 in Una, 3 each in Kullu and Mandi, 2 in Sirmaur, and 1 each in Chamba, Hamirpur, Shimla and Solan districts, the State Emergency Operation Centre said.
The destruction destroyed 121 houses.
At least 3 died in 35 landslides during the same period, with Mandi reporting the highest number of landslides. Kinnaur and Shimla reported six landslides each, Lahaul and Spiti and Chamba four each, Solan three, Kullu two, and Bilaspur one, it said.
Residents in several districts dispute the official count of cloudburst, flash flood, and landslide incidents, as the state struggles to cope with the aftermath.
The State Emergency Operation Centre reports 95 closed roads, including 33 in Kullu, 23 in Mandi and Shimla, and others in Kangra, Chamba, Kinnaur, Hamirpur, and Una.
The centre also notes 47 affected power supply schemes and 35 water supply schemes, highlighting the extent of the damage. Official estimates put the total losses at Rs 1,140 crore, with the Public Works Department bearing the brunt at Rs 502 crore, followed by the Jal Shakti Department (Rs 469 crore) and Horticulture Department (Rs 139 crore).
A 'yellow' alert for heavy rains in isolated areas has been issued by the local meteorological office until August 21.
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