95-lives-lost-infrastructure-crippled-as-hp-battles-heavy-rains

The ongoing monsoon continues to wreak havoc across Himachal Pradesh, causing heavy rainfall, landslides, flash floods, and widespread damage to infrastructure. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) reports that 95 people died in disasters in the state between June 20 and July 12.

 

Of these, rain-related events like landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, and drowning directly caused almost 56 deaths. Mandi had the most rain-related deaths (17), followed by Kangra (12) and Kullu (3).

 

Besides the weather-related tragedies, 39 individuals lost their lives in road accidents, many of which occurred due to treacherous driving conditions. Solan (6), Chamba (6), and Kullu (7) were among the worst-hit districts in this category.

 

The state is also grappling with extensive damage to property, livestock, and agriculture. The SDMA estimates the total loss at over ₹751 crore. Over 22,453 animals, including 21,500 poultry birds, have perished during the ongoing crisis.

 

Despite the challenges, the SDMA's Emergency Operations Centre (Helpline 1070) remains active 24x7, coordinating rescue and relief work in the affected region. The state government, in coordination with the district authorities, and national agencies such as the NDRF, SDRF, and the Indian Air Force continues is carrying out large-scale rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

 

Relief camps have been set up, offline tendering for restoration work is underway, and heavy machinery has been deployed in landslide-prone areas.
To aid recovery, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh has announced interim relief of ₹ 2 crore for the most severely affected assembly constituencies and ₹50 lakh for others for urgent repair of infrastructure.

 

Appealing for unity in this crisis, Singh said: “This is not the time for political rhetoric. We must rise above party lines and ensure relief reaches every affected citizen.”

 

The state has also sought additional support from the Central Government, citing the scale of the disaster and the urgent need for collective action.

 

Meanwhile, the SDMA continues to urge the public to avoid non-essential travel, especially in areas near hillsides, rivers, and landslide-prone zones. Early warning systems and rapid-response teams remain on high alert as rainfall is expected to continue in the coming days.