43 dead, 37 missing as monsoon ravages Himachal, costing ₹5000 crore in damages

Himachal Pradesh is grappling with severe monsoon-induced devastation, with officials on Friday confirming that 43 people have been killed and 37 are still missing since the onset of the monsoon on June 20. The relentless weather, characterized by cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides, has also caused an estimated ₹5,000 crore in damages across the state. Among the fatalities, 14 succumbed to cloudbursts, eight to flash floods, one to a landslide, and seven drowned.

Mandi district has emerged as the epicentre of the disaster, accounting for 17 deaths and a staggering 31 missing persons following ten instances of cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides that wreaked havoc on Tuesday. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with soldiers from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Friday successfully rescuing 65 people trapped in Bharad, Deji, Payala, and Rukchui villages. The incessant downpour has caused widespread damage, including over 150 houses, 106 cattle sheds, 31 vehicles, and 14 bridges, while 164 cattle have perished. Five relief camps have been established, housing 402 rescued individuals, with 348 from Mandi alone.

The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) reported that 280 roads remain out of bounds for vehicular traffic, including 156 in Mandi, 49 in Sirmaur, and 36 in Kullu districts. Essential services have also been severely impacted, with 332 transformers and 784 water supply schemes disrupted across the state. The local meteorological office has issued an Orange Alert, warning of heavy to very heavy rain in isolated parts of the state from Saturday to Tuesday, signaling continued challenges for rescue and restoration efforts. Intermittent rain continues to lash various parts of Himachal, including Aghar, Ghaghas, and Sarahan, which received significant rainfall since Thursday evening.