106 Deaths in Himachal Pradesh Due to Heavy Rainfall; 199 Roads Closed; Houses, Shops, and Water Supply Schemes Damaged; State Suffers ₹1000 Crore Loss.
Himachal Rain Disaster: The monsoon has wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh. Continuous rainfall in various parts of the state has disrupted normal life. The situation is extremely serious in districts like Shimla, Bilaspur, and Solan. According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), 106 people have lost their lives between June 20th and July 15th. Of these, 62 deaths were directly related to disasters caused by the rainfall.
Yellow Alert Issued, No Immediate Relief Expected
The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain and thunderstorms in Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, and Sirmaur districts for July 16th. The weather department has indicated that the rainfall may continue until July 21st. A drop of 1 to 2 degrees Celsius has also been recorded in the temperature. The highest temperature, 32.5 degrees Celsius, was recorded in Una and Dhaulakuan.
62 Deaths in Rain-Related Disasters
According to the SDMA report, 62 people died in incidents such as landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, drowning, lightning strikes, and falls from trees or rocks. Cloudburst incidents claimed 15 lives, while falls from heights accounted for 12 deaths and drowning for 11. Flash floods caused 8 deaths. Lightning strikes and snake bites each claimed 5 lives.
44 Deaths in Road Accidents
Road accidents during the rainfall also resulted in 44 deaths. The districts most affected were Mandi with 4 deaths, Kullu with 7, and Kinnaur with 5. The state government has claimed to be taking all necessary steps for disaster management.
Hundreds of Houses and Shops Damaged
The heavy rainfall has not only claimed lives but has also caused widespread damage to property. So far, 384 houses have been completely destroyed. In addition, 666 houses have been partially damaged. 244 shops and 850 animal sheds have also been damaged.
Water Supply Schemes and Roads Affected
171 water supply schemes have been affected due to the rainfall and landslides. Mandi district has the highest number of schemes shut down, with 142, followed by 18 in Kangra and 11 in Sirmaur. Furthermore, a total of 199 roads are closed in the state. 141 roads are blocked in Mandi district, 35 in Kullu, 10 in Kangra, 8 in Sirmaur, 3 in Una, and 2 in Chamba. The government is making efforts to reopen these roads.
State Suffers a Loss of ₹1000 Crore
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi and informed him about the state's situation. The Chief Minister stated that the state has suffered a loss of approximately ₹1000 crore due to flash floods and cloudburst incidents. He also requested financial assistance from the central government.
Government's Appeal and Actions
The state government and the disaster management department are appealing to people to stay away from sensitive areas and avoid travel unless necessary. NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed for relief and rescue operations.
