Monsoon mayhem: 20 killed; damage put at Rs160.36 crore

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 27

Despite 29 per cent deficit rain, the monsoon, this year, has claimed a total of 20 lives. The damage to public/private property was pegged at Rs 160.36 crore.

Today’s heavy downpour in most parts of the state helped bring down the overall rain deficit from 31 to 29 per cent. Barring Solan district which has had an excess of 13 per cent rain, all other districts are witnessing a deficit ranging from 6 to 85 per cent with the tribal district of Lahaul-Spiti being the worst-hit.

While two women died after their house collapsed in the Sangrah area of Sirmaur, the Manali administration rescued eight labourers working at a hydro-power project.

Following the incident, the government today once again directed all Deputy Commissioners to ask power producers and contractors to ensure safety of labourers.

In case of Manali, the administration has issued a notice to promoters of the power project asking why the labourers were made to stay at an unsafe place. In case of unsatisfactory reply, an FIR could be lodged against them.

“So far, a total of 20 persons have lost their lives on account of landslides, flash floods and cloudburst in various parts of the state,” said DD Sharma, Special Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management and Revenue. He said a total of 73 cattle had perished while over 250 houses, both pucca and kucha, had suffered damage.

Sharma said as of today, the maximum loss had been caused to the Public Works Department (PWD) which had suffered damages amounting to Rs 85.25 crore followed by Rs 57.15 crore loss to the power sector. “The horticulture sector has suffered a loss of Rs 15. 70 crore while the damage to other crops and vegetables has been pegged at Rs 4.25 crore,” said Sharma. The Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Department has also suffered huge losses which have been put at Rs 40.21 crore. The losses on account of damage to community assets stands at Rs 2.91 crore. The rain starting from June 1 till today has been recorded deficient at 260.7 mm against the normal rainfall of 367.2 mm. This has resulted in 29 per cent deficit rain. During the last 24 hours, Gaggal in Kangra received the highest rainfall of 166 mm, followed by 155 mm at Palampur, 130 mm at Dharamsala, 116 at Jogindernagar, 79 mm at Dalhousie, 61 mm at Guler, 55 mm at Sangrah, 54 mm at Baijnath and 50 mm at Renuka.