Himachal Pradesh is currently facing one of its worst natural disasters in recent years. Since the day of June 20th, monsoon rains have been falling across the state. This has caused flash floods, landslides, and cloudbursts. All of these disasters have already killed 78 people, and many others are still missing or injured.
The Worst Affected Area- Mandi
There are many people who are stuck without food and clean water. Roads and bridges have been damaged, and homes have been washed away. The damage is so big that the state is currently struggling to bring everything back to normal.
The monsoon has been particularly severe in the district of Mandi, which has emerged as an epicentre of the disaster. Entire villages such as Thunag, Karsog, and Dharampur have suffered from extensive losses, such as houses, bridges, and roads swept away. As per the State Disaster Management Authority, the district of Mandi alone has seen 17 rain-related deaths in the area.
This number is the highest in the state. Experts there have also warned that the region’s fragile nature, combined with changing climate patterns which is making such extreme weather events which are more common and destructive.
An Affect Happened In Himachal Pradesh
Across Himachal Pradesh, the number of problems is:
- 298 roads were blocked, which paralysed transportation and isolated communities.
- With that, there were 285 electricity transformers and 278 water supply schemes, which left thousands without the basic need of power and clean water in the whole of Himachal Pradesh.
- There were 163 houses destroyed, with another 178 which are partially damaged too.
- The estimated loss, which is counted when it comes to infrastructure, is around 700 crore INR.
Nature Of Disaster In Himachal Pradesh
Since the monsoon is coming, but destruction has already happened in Himachal Pradesh. The state has witnessed 19 cloudbursts, 23 flash floods, and 16 major landslides. The IMD has also issued repeated orange and yellow alerts in the state for the coming time. They had also warned of further heavy rainfall and the heightened risk. There are also additional risks of landslides and flash floods in the future.
Impact And Essential Services In Himachal Pradesh
The impact of these disasters has impacted the state. This has also disturbed the daily life of many people in the state. In many areas, residents are being urged to boil water from the storage tank as the drinking water is currently affected by the destruction. The restoration of the electricity and water services is proving to be a massive challenge. There are many transformers and pipelines which is washed away or buried under due to floods.
Government Responses And Warnings Over The Destruction
The Himachal Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Suku and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, has decided to mobilise all available resources to tackle the crisis. Relief camps have been set up, with food and shelter provided to displaced families. Authorities have appealed to the public to avoid unnecessary travel, especially in landslide-prone areas, and to cooperate with rescue and restoration teams.
The Meteorological Department has also issued a red alert for areas where there is a chance of having very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in several districts. These area includes Kangra, Sirmura, and Mandi. They also warned about continued risks of flash floods and landslides over the upcoming 48 hours. Residents and tourists are being urged to remain vigilant and heed official advisories. The state is currently focusing on saving lives, restoring essential services, and rebuilding shattered communities.
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