The ongoing monsoon season in Himachal Pradesh has unleashed a wave of destruction, with 31 lives lost and 33 people reported missing in a series of devastating cloudbursts and flash floods that have battered the State since the arrival of the monsoon on June 27. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, between June 27 and August 16, a total of 51 such incidents were recorded, marking one of the most severe monsoon seasons in recent history.
Lahaul and Spiti, known for its rugged terrain and picturesque landscapes, has been the hardest hit, with 22 cloudburst and flash flood incidents reported — the highest in the state. Kinnaur follows with 11 incidents, while Una has seen six, Kullu and Mandi three each, Sirmaur two, and Chamba, Hamirpur, Shimla, and Solan one each. The scale of the disaster is further underscored by the extensive damage to property, with 121 houses reported to have been completely or partially destroyed.
In addition to the cloudbursts and flash floods, landslides have added to the devastation. The State Emergency Operation Centre reported that 35 landslides have occurred since the onset of the monsoon, claiming the lives of three people. Mandi district has been particularly vulnerable, reporting the highest number of landslides at nine, followed by Kinnaur and Shimla with six each, Lahaul and Spiti and Chamba with four each, Solan with three, Kullu with two, and Bilaspur with one.
However, local residents in various districts claimed that the actual number of such incidents may be significantly higher than the official count, indicating the widespread and unpredictable nature of the disaster.
As light rains continue to lash parts of the State, the situation remains grim. On Sunday morning, 95 roads were reported closed, with Kullu bearing the brunt with 33 road closures, followed by Mandi and Shimla with 23 each, Kangra with 10, Chamba and Kinnaur with two each, and Hamirpur and Una with one each. The closure of these roads has severely hampered relief and rescue operations, further exacerbating the challenges faced by the affected communities.
The monsoon havoc has also taken a toll on the state’s infrastructure, with power and water supply schemes severely disrupted. As many as 47 power schemes and 35 water supply schemes have been impacted, leaving several areas without essential services. The State Government estimated that the total losses incurred so far amount to a staggering Rs 1,140 crore, with the road infrastructure bearing the maximum brunt. The Public Works Department alone has suffered losses of Rs 502 crore, while the Jal Shakti Department has reported damages worth Rs 469 crore, and the Horticulture Department has incurred losses of Rs 139 crore.
As Himachal grapples with the aftermath of these natural disasters, the local meteorological office has issued a ‘yellow’ alert for heavy rains in isolated places across the state until August 21, raising concerns of further damage and disruption. The State Government and emergency services are on high alert, working tirelessly to restore normalcy and provide relief to the affected regions. However, with the monsoon season far from over, the people of Himachal Pradesh remain on edge, bracing for what the unpredictable weather might bring next.
