3 weeks ago
Himachal Monsoon Claims 163 Lives, Blocks 204 Roads
Every year, India gets a rainy season called the monsoon.
This year, the rain has been very heavy in a mountainous state called Himachal Pradesh.
The heavy rain makes hillsides crumble, which is called a landslide, and makes rivers overflow, which is called a flash flood.
Because of this, many people have sadly lost their lives, and many roads are blocked or broken.
Two big highways are closed, and some areas are hard to reach.
Power lines are down in some places, so people do not have electricity, and some areas do not have clean drinking water.
Many homes, farms and public buildings have been damaged, and fixing them may cost a lot of money.
Helpers and officials are working hard to clear roads and restore electricity and water, but more rain keeps falling.
The reports from different days give different numbers of deaths, because the situation keeps changing.
Weather experts say more heavy rain may be coming, so everyone is working to keep people safe.
The State Emergency Operation Centre's June 30–August 11 report records 70 direct disaster deaths (14 landslides, 23 falls from slopes/rocks/trees, seven snake bites, six electrocutions, four cloudbursts) plus 93 road accident deaths.
204 roads remain blocked, including national highways NH-154 and NH-21; Mandi is worst hit with 80 closures, followed by Kullu (56) and Sirmaur (23), and the Mandi-Kullu route is cut at Jalogi Dwada.
Cumulative public property damage is estimated at about ₹910.35 crore, with the Public Works Department reporting losses of about ₹68,636.43 lakh and the power sector about ₹20,389.51 lakh.
45 distribution transformers are out of service (41 in Sirmaur's Nahan subdivision) and about 82 water supply schemes are affected, with Sirmaur reporting 31 disruptions.
A separate earlier SEOC report covering through August 9 cited 157 deaths (68 in landslides/flash floods, 89 in road crashes), 259 blocked roads, about 257 missing, around ₹886 crore in losses and an orange rain alert for Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur, Shimla and Sirmaur.
- Who
- People across all 12 districts of Himachal Pradesh; the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) released the official reports and the India Meteorological Department issued weather warnings.
- What
- Heavy monsoon rain, landslides and cloudbursts caused 163 deaths (70 in direct disaster incidents and 93 in road accidents), blocked 204 roads and damaged public property worth about ₹910.35 crore.
- Where
- Himachal Pradesh, especially Mandi, Kullu, Sirmaur, Shimla, Chamba, Kangra and Lahaul and Spiti; neighbouring Uttarakhand also suffered weather damage.
- When
- From June 30 to August 11 per the latest SEOC report; an earlier SEOC report covered the period through August 9.
- Why
- Incessant monsoon rains triggered landslides, cloudbursts, flash floods and hazardous road conditions, disrupting transport, power and drinking water across the Himalayan state.
Key facts
- Official report period
- June 30 – August 11
- Direct disaster deaths
- 70 (14 landslides, 23 falls, 7 snake bites, 6 electrocutions, 4 cloudbursts)
- Road accident deaths
- 93
- Roads blocked
- 204, including NH-154 and NH-21
- Public property damage
- About ₹910.35 crore
- Transformers out of service
- 45, of which 41 in Sirmaur
- Water supply schemes affected
- About 82 (Sirmaur 31, Hamirpur 11, Mandi 8)
- Earlier report (through Aug 9)
- 157 deaths, 259 roads blocked, about 257 missing, ₹886 crore losses
Sources
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