Mandi: The district of Mandi in Himachal Pradesh is reeling from the devastating impact of incessant heavy rainfall and cloudbursts, which have claimed at least 37 lives across the state and caused property damage estimated at over Rs 400 crore. Normal life has been severely disrupted, with widespread destruction of homes, washed-away vehicles, and extensive damage to critical infrastructure.

As per ANI reports, the past 24 hours have seen continuous downpours and multiple cloudburst incidents, turning rivers into raging torrents and triggering landslides. A local resident in Mandi described the harrowing experience: "Everything got washed away after a cloudburst. We are staying at our relatives' house."

Expressing concern over the situation, Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken with the Chief Ministers of affected states, including Himachal Pradesh. He confirmed that adequate numbers of NDRF teams have been deployed to assist those in need, and further reinforcements can be dispatched as required. Shah assured the states of all possible assistance from the central government.

According to the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority and the Revenue Department, the state has already incurred losses exceeding Rs 400 crore, a figure that is expected to climb as damage assessments continue. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a rain alert for Himachal Pradesh until July 7, warning of continued heavy rainfall.

DC Rana, Special Secretary of the State Disaster Management Authority and the Revenue Department, stated on Wednesday, "We have recorded over Rs 400 crore in losses so far, as entered in our system. But the actual damage is likely to be much higher." He emphasised that the immediate priority remains search, rescue, and restoration efforts, with detailed damage assessment to follow.

The Thunag subdivision of Mandi has been identified as the worst-affected area, with significant restoration operations underway. Roads are blocked, electricity and water supplies are severely impacted, and vehicular movement has been crippled. Senior officials, including PWD engineers, the Director of Operations of the Electricity Board, and the Chief Engineer of Jal Shakti, are on the ground in Mandi to oversee the restoration efforts.

The human toll of the monsoon season is grim, with 37 deaths directly attributed to rain-related incidents. An additional 26 fatalities have been reported due to road accidents during this period.

Highlighting a broader concern, DC Rana linked the intensity of these weather events to climate change and global warming. "These events are a consequence of global warming and climate change. Himachal is not untouched by these impacts," he said.

Across Himachal Pradesh, the scale of disruption is immense: 250 roads remain closed, over 500 electricity distribution transformers are non-functional, and approximately 700 drinking water schemes have been affected.

A coordinated response is underway, involving the State Disaster Management Authority, local administration, police, Home Guards, SDRF, and central agencies, including the NDRF. Meanwhile, in the state capital of Shimla, daily life has also been severely impacted by the continuous downpour, with school children among those most affected.

Authorities urge residents to remain vigilant and heed advisories as the state braces for more rainfall in the coming days.

With inputs from ANI