Severe Monsoon Impact in Himachal Pradesh: 37 Lives Lost and ₹400 Crore in Damages

Devastating Rainfall in Himachal Pradesh

According to the state's Disaster Management Authority, the relentless rainfall in Himachal Pradesh has resulted in the tragic loss of over 37 lives and inflicted property damages estimated at ₹400 crores. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a rain alert for the region, which is expected to last until July 7. Typically, the monsoon season in Himachal Pradesh spans from July to September; however, this year, the monsoon began unusually early in mid-June, leading to intense rainfall over the past two weeks since June 20.

Rescue and relief operations are currently in progress, especially in the Mandi district, which has been severely affected. Many roads are blocked, disrupting essential services. "We have recorded losses exceeding ₹400 crores so far, but the actual damage could be significantly higher," stated DC Rana, Special Secretary of the State Disaster Management Authority, during a media briefing on Wednesday.

"Our immediate priority is search, rescue, and restoration efforts. A comprehensive damage assessment will take time," he added. The Thunag subdivision in Mandi is among the hardest-hit areas, where major restoration initiatives are underway. "Roads are obstructed, and both electricity and water supplies have been severely impacted, affecting vehicle movement," Rana explained.

Senior officials are actively monitoring the situation. Engineers from the Public Works Department are managing road repairs, while the Electricity Board's Director of Operations and the Chief Engineer of Jal Shakti are also present in Mandi. As per the latest data, 37 individuals have died due to rain-related incidents during this monsoon season.

Additionally, 26 fatalities have been reported from road accidents during this period. In Mandi district alone, 40 individuals are reported missing, prompting extensive search operations. "A village in Mandi has suffered significant devastation. A relief camp has been established, and food packets were air-dropped yesterday by the Indian Air Force," Rana noted.

Emphasizing the broader implications of climate change, DC Rana remarked that the impacts of global warming are being felt in Himachal Pradesh as well. "These occurrences are a direct result of climate change. Himachal is not immune to these effects," he stated. Currently, 250 roads remain closed, over 500 electricity distribution transformers are out of service, and approximately 700 drinking water schemes have been disrupted.

In addition to the State Disaster Management Authority, local administration, police, Home Guards, SDRF, and central agencies, including the NDRF, are collaborating in the response efforts. Meanwhile, in Shimla, daily life has been significantly disrupted due to the heavy rainfall. School children are particularly affected. Tanuja Thakur, a student from Shimla, shared her concerns: "It’s pouring heavily. Water is seeping into our classrooms, soaking our clothes and books. Our teachers advise us to stay home. Whether we attend school or not feels irrelevant right now because everything is wet, and there’s a sense of fear." She added, "Our school is surrounded by trees, and there’s always a worry that a tree might fall. Thankfully, we are safe for now." The administration is closely monitoring the situation, with teams on high alert as severe rain is forecasted for the upcoming days.