According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, some 241 water-supply projects have been damaged, including a Rs.121-crore scheme in Seraj and Balichowki, resulting in estimated losses of nearly Rs.700 crore.
Shimla: Since the monsoon arrived on June 20, Himachal Pradesh has experienced 23 flash floods, 19 cloudbursts and 16 landslides, claiming 52 lives in rain-related incidents and a further 28 in road accidents, officials said on Monday. Mandi district, the hardest hit, has deployed drones, sniffer dogs and some 250 personnel from the National and State Disaster Response Forces, the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, home guards and local volunteers to locate 28 people reported missing last week in Thunag, Gohar and Karsog subdivisions. Meanwhile, 20 teams are distributing rations and medical kits in areas cut off by landslides.
On Monday, a landslide in Bilaspur’s Sai Kharsi area sent debris crashing onto a petrol pump. Eyewitnesses reported that a sudden fall of rocks and mud narrowly missed causing casualties, and no injuries were reported.
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, some 241 water-supply projects have been damaged, including a ₹121-crore scheme in Seraj and Balichowki, resulting in estimated losses of nearly ₹700 crore. To date, around 140 schemes have been partially restored. In addition, 225 houses, seven shops, 243 cattle sheds, 31 vehicles, 14 bridges and several roads were damaged; 215 cattle perished, and 494 people have been rescued. As of Monday evening, 235 roads remain closed statewide, with 176 in Mandi alone, and 163 power transformers are out of service.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut, Opposition Leader Jai Ram Thakur, BJP state president Rajiv Bindal and several cabinet ministers have toured the affected areas. Agnihotri announced immediate monetary relief of ₹12.44 lakh and the distribution of 1,538 ration kits, with an additional ₹5 lakh each sent to Thunag and Janjheli. Thakur, however, alleged that some villages have yet to receive relief material or drinking water despite being hit over a week ago.
Light to moderate rain continued in parts of the state on Monday. Nangal Dam recorded the highest 24-hour rainfall at 56 mm, followed by Olinda (46 mm) and Berthin (44.6 mm). The local meteorological office has issued a yellow warning for isolated heavy rain in Una, Hamirpur, Solan and Sirmaur districts through Wednesday.
