Himachal Pradesh is reeling under the impact of relentless monsoon rains that have claimed 100 lives since June 27 and caused widespread disruption. Since the onset of the monsoon on June 27, heavy rains have taken 100 lives in Himachal Pradesh, as the state grapples with ongoing weather challenges. As of Thursday, traffic remains severely impacted, with 97 roads closed across various districts, according to state officials.
The Meteorological Department has issued an ‘orange’ warning for Saturday, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, in Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, and Sirmaur districts.
The state emergency operation center reported various causes of fatalities: 30 people died after falling from heights, 23 in accidental drownings, 14 from snake bites, 13 due to electrocution, 11 in cloudbursts, three in flash floods, one in a landslide, and five from other reasons.
The highest number of deaths were reported from Mandi (21), followed by Kangra (18), while Shimla and Sirmaur districts each recorded nine deaths.
The Met office has also warned of potential low to moderate flash floods in parts of Sirmaur, Chamba, Shimla, and Mandi districts in the next 24 hours.
By Thursday evening, 40 roads remained closed in Mandi, 26 in Kullu, 15 in Shimla, six in Kangra, four each in Sirmaur and Lahaul and Spiti, and one each in Hamirpur and Kinnaur districts. The Shimla-Kalka National Highway 5 faced significant disruption, with traffic restricted to one side due to debris near Kandaghat in Solan district, leading to long queues of vehicles.
In addition, 45 transformers and 25 water supply schemes have been affected across the state, further complicating daily life.
Rainfall and Water Supply Concerns
Shillaroo recorded the highest rainfall since Wednesday evening at 86.4 mm, followed by Kufri (78 mm) and Baggi (76.6 mm). Other significant rainfall figures include Sundernagar (64.2 mm), Mandi (60.2 mm), and Dharamshala (38.6 mm). Shimla recorded 34 mm of rain, and the city’s water supply may be disrupted for the next 2-3 days due to turbidity in the water sources, according to the Shimla Jal Prabandhak Nigam.
Despite the current deluge, the state has received 29% less rainfall than normal for the monsoon season up to August 8, with 307.9 mm of rainfall recorded against an average of 435.5 mm. However, August has so far seen near-normal rainfall, with 80.8 mm recorded against a normal of 78.5 mm.
The Met office has warned of potential landslides, flash floods, and damage to crops, plantations, and vulnerable structures, particularly in low-lying areas.
The state government has estimated losses of approximately Rs 802 crore between June 27 and August 8 due to the monsoon’s impact.