Himachal Pradesh Monsoon Devastation: 386 Lives Lost, Massive Damage Reported
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh – The heavy monsoon rains this year have wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh, claiming 386 lives since June 20, according to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). Officials shared this grim update on Saturday, painting a picture of widespread tragedy across the hill state.
Out of these deaths, 218 happened due to rain-related disasters like landslides, flash floods, collapsing houses, drownings, electrocutions, and even snakebites. Another 168 people lost their lives in road accidents, which spiked because of the slippery and dangerous hill roads during the rains.
The SDMA’s latest damage report reveals a staggering total loss of ₹446.5 crore to the state’s economy. This hits hard in key areas such as public infrastructure, agriculture, horticulture, power supply, education, and health services. It’s a tough blow for the people relying on these sectors.
Some districts bore the brunt of the monsoon fury. Mandi saw the highest toll with 37 rain-related deaths and 24 from accidents. Kullu followed closely with 31 disaster fatalities and 13 road deaths. In Chamba, 21 people died from rain incidents and 22 in accidents, while Kangra reported 33 monsoon-linked deaths and 21 accident victims.
The destruction didn’t stop at human lives. Over 2,000 houses completely collapsed, and nearly 6,000 suffered partial damage. Thousands of cowsheds, shops, factories, and labor sheds also crumbled under the weight of the rains. Adding to the sorrow, the report notes that 27,955 poultry birds and 2,083 cattle died during this period.
Breaking down the infrastructure losses, agriculture took a massive hit with over ₹2.7 lakh crore in damages. Horticulture suffered ₹1.38 lakh crore, the Public Works Department lost ₹8,076 crore, Jal Shakti (water supply) faced ₹5,164 crore in setbacks, and the power sector reported ₹2,743 crore worth of destruction.
Officials are racing against time to fix the mess. Teams are working round-the-clock to restore roads, water supply, and power lines, but ongoing landslides and heavy showers keep slowing them down. "This level of damage is unprecedented," an SDMA spokesperson said. "We’re focusing on getting essential services back up in the hardest-hit districts first."
As the monsoon lingers in parts of Himachal Pradesh, the SDMA is urging everyone to stay safe. Avoid unnecessary travel, keep an eye on weather alerts, and take every precaution. The state needs everyone’s help to recover from this natural disaster.
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