Shimla (HP): Himachal Pradesh’s relentless monsoon season has claimed 404 lives since June 20, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) reported on Sunday. Of these, 229 deaths were due to rain-related incidents—including landslides, flash floods, drownings, and house collapses—while 175 people died in road accidents.
Describing the destruction as “unprecedented,” the SDMA noted widespread damage to homes, farms, and public infrastructure across the hill state. Total estimated losses have crossed Rs 44,890 crore (Rs 4,48,905.58 lakh).
Breaking down the rain-related fatalities: 48 died in landslides, 11 in flash floods, 17 due to cloudbursts, 38 from drowning, 15 from snake bites, 17 from electrocution, and 44 from falls on steep terrain. Road accidents further highlighted the vulnerability of Himachal’s transport network during the monsoon.
Beyond the deaths, 462 people have been injured, and 41 remain missing. The heavy rains also claimed 2,094 animals and nearly 26,955 poultry birds.
Public infrastructure has suffered severe damage, with roads, power lines, water schemes, schools, and health facilities heavily affected. Power and water services have been particularly disrupted: 373 electricity distribution transformers are out of service, cutting power for thousands, while 188 water supply schemes are disrupted due to damaged pipelines and blocked access.
Sector-wise losses reported by SDMA include:
PWD (roads & bridges): Rs 2,73,935 lakh
Jal Shakti (water schemes): Rs 1,38,644 lakh
Power sector: Rs 13,946 lakh
Education: Rs 2,045 lakh
Rural & Urban Development: over Rs 1,800 lakh combined
Agriculture has also taken a heavy hit, with 8,278 hectares of crops and 6,036 hectares of horticultural land damaged, severely impacting the rural economy.
The worst-hit districts are Mandi (61 deaths), Kangra (55), Chamba (50), Kullu (44), and Shimla (43), each reporting widespread destruction of homes and public infrastructure.
The SDMA confirmed that relief efforts are underway, with hundreds of machines and field teams deployed to clear blocked roads and repair damaged transformers and water schemes. However, frequent landslides and continuous rainfall are slowing operations.
“The scale of losses is massive, but the government is coordinating with central agencies to provide relief and expedite restoration,” the SDMA said.
