Heavy rains have battered Himachal Pradesh this monsoon season, pushing the death toll to 427 from June 20 to September 20, reports the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). Out of these, 243 people lost their lives to rain-related incidents like landslides, flash floods, drowning, and lightning strikes, while 184 died in road accidents during the same period.
The storms didn’t spare public infrastructure either. As of September 20 morning, 394 roads stay blocked, including key national highways NH-03 and NH-503A. Power supply faces big hurdles too, with 73 distribution transformers out of order, leading to outages in multiple districts. Water woes hit hard as well—174 supply schemes aren’t working, disrupting access for both rural and urban areas.
Districts like Mandi, Kullu, and Kangra bear the brunt of road blockages, with Mandi seeing 140 roads closed, Kullu 109, and Kangra 38. Mandi also leads in power disruptions (11 transformers down) and water issues (105 schemes affected), followed by Shimla (28 schemes) and Solan (10 schemes).
Beyond the immediate chaos, the monsoon has caused lasting damage. The state tallied 1,708 injuries, 481 animal deaths, and wrecked homes—651 houses fully destroyed and 1,012 partially. In all, damages hit 2,287 houses, 4,908 cowsheds, 584 shops and factories, 58 labor sheds, and 7,048 smaller structures.
Farmers and growers feel the pain deeply. Crops worth ₹2,90,383.8 lakh got ruined, along with orchards valued at ₹1,45,771.9 lakh. Public assets, from roads and water lines to schools, health centers, and power grids, suffered over ₹4,75,451 lakh in losses.
SDMA points to nonstop heavy rains as the main culprit for the road damage, power blackouts, and water breakdowns. Teams work around the clock on fixes, but spots in Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla remain tough due to ongoing landslides and shaky hillsides.
This year’s monsoon ranks as one of the deadliest for Himachal Pradesh in years, claiming countless lives, smashing infrastructure, and forcing many residents from their homes.
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