Monsoon havoc in Himachal Pradesh claims 85 lives; Mandi worst-hit

Shimla: The death toll from the ongoing monsoon destruction in Himachal Pradesh has risen to 85, according to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). Of these, 54 people lost their lives due to rain-triggered incidents like landslides, cloudbursts, and flash floods, while 31 fatalities were reported from road accidents.

The state remains severely impacted by continuous heavy rainfall, which has led to widespread disruption of infrastructure and essential services. In the past 24 hours alone, 204 roads have been blocked, including the critical National Highway NH-003 linking Mandi to Dharampur via Kotli. Additionally, 192 power transformers and 740 water supply schemes have been rendered non-functional.

Mandi district has emerged as the epicenter of the devastation, with 138 road blockages, massive power outages, and significant damage to water systems. In Kullu, 20 roads remain blocked, and districts such as Sirmaur and Kangra are also grappling with substantial damage to transport and utility infrastructure.

“All emergency services are on alert. Restoration of road access, electricity, and water supply is ongoing,” stated officials from the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), which is closely monitoring the situation.

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The SDMA has urged the public to refrain from traveling on vulnerable routes, especially in high-altitude and landslide-prone regions, as weather forecasts predict further rainfall in the coming days.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visited the flood-affected areas of the Seraj Assembly constituency in Mandi on Wednesday. He assured affected families of full state support and inspected the relief camp established in Bagsiad. The Chief Minister emphasised that rescue and relief efforts are being actively carried out and warned against misinformation being circulated on social media.

"I personally got delivered relief material and ration to rain-hit Galu in a helicopter. Later, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri and Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh also visited the affected areas to assess the damage caused," Sukhu added.

As Himachal Pradesh battles one of the most destructive monsoons in recent years, authorities continue to prioritise relief, rescue, and restoration across the affected regions.

ANI inputs