Shimla: The hill state of Himachal Pradesh continues to suffer under the onslaught of unrelenting monsoon rains that have battered the region since June 20, leaving behind a trail of death, destruction, and disruption.
As per the latest report released by the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), the monsoon death toll has surged to 179, marking one of the deadliest rainy seasons the state has witnessed in recent years.
Out of these fatalities, 101 deaths have been directly attributed to weather-related disasters such as landslides, flash floods, lightning strikes, and cloudbursts — all of which have become more frequent and intense due to changing climatic conditions.
The remaining 78 casualties have occurred in road accidents, many of which are linked to treacherous driving conditions, landslide debris on highways, and crumbling mountain roads severely damaged by the rains.
Infrastructure in Shambles as Key Services Collapse
The torrential rains have brought much of the state’s infrastructure to a near standstill. As of Friday evening, over:
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403 roads remain blocked, including critical highways that connect rural interiors to major cities.
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411 power transformers have gone offline, plunging several regions into darkness.
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196 water supply schemes are non-operational, depriving thousands of residents of safe drinking water.
Among the most severely impacted transport routes is National Highway-505 in Lahaul and Spiti, which has been completely cut off due to repeated landslides. The closure has left travellers, tourists, and locals stranded in the remote valley, with little access to food, medical help, or alternate routes.
Telecommunication networks have also taken a hit in higher altitudes and tribal districts, making it difficult for rescue teams to coordinate with local authorities and villagers in distress.
Districts Under Duress: A Statewide Emergency
The worst-hit districts include Mandi, Chamba, Kullu, Kangra, and Una, where multiple reports have emerged of:
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Entire homes collapsing into rivers.
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Bridges swept away, cutting off hundreds of villages.
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Families evacuated overnight due to the risk of landslides or flash floods.
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Agricultural land was submerged, destroying crops, especially in the fertile valleys of Kangra and Kullu.
In Chamba, a cloudburst earlier this week caused a sudden surge in the Ravi River, destroying a large chunk of riverbank housing and displacing nearly 200 families. Similarly, in Kullu’s Banjar region, a landslide swept away a two-story building, killing at least six people and injuring several others.
Relief Operations and Government Response
With rainfall forecast to continue in the coming days, rescue and relief operations are being carried out on a war footing by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local volunteers.
However, officials have warned that continued rainfall could hamper rescue work, delay the restoration of electricity and water supply, and pose additional risks to already vulnerable areas.
Citizens have been urged to stay indoors, follow district-level advisories, and avoid riverbanks, steep slopes, and landslide-prone areas. The SDMA has re-emphasized that the risk of sudden flash floods and hill slope failures remains extremely high.
For assistance, the public has been advised to contact the State Emergency Operations Centre through its 24×7 toll-free helpline at 1070.
Earlier in the day, Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla personally flagged off three trucks loaded with essential relief materials from Shimla, destined for the hardest-hit districts of Mandi and Kullu.
“The trucks, sent via the State Red Cross Society, carry relief items including tents, tarpaulins, dry ration kits, blankets, and basic medical supplies for over 1,200 flood-affected families,” a government official said.
In addition, makeshift relief shelters have been established in school buildings and community centers to house displaced families. The state government has also announced that monetary compensation will be provided to the families of the deceased and those who lost their homes or farmland.
Climate Change and the Mountain Crisis
Meteorologists and climate experts have pointed out that Himachal Pradesh is now seeing the harsh consequences of accelerated climate change. With glaciers retreating, extreme precipitation events becoming common, and urbanization disrupting natural drainage, the region is increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters.
An official from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) noted:
“Rainfall patterns have become erratic. The state is experiencing short bursts of intense rain, which is a signature of climate change-driven monsoons. The terrain is simply unable to handle such intensity.”