Losses due to natural disasters in Himachal during monsoon cross Rs 4,000 crore

The total loss caused by natural disasters triggered by torrential rains during the monsoon season has breached the Rs 4,000-crore mark in Himachal Pradesh, with total loss now reaching Rs 4,080.97 crore.

As per the Revenue Department, the Public Works Department has been hit the worst as it suffered a total loss of about Rs 2,518.54 crore, followed by Jal Shakti Vibhag, which suffered a loss of Rs 1,254.92 crore till now. The power department has suffered a loss of about Rs 139.46 crore.

Till now, at least 203 people have lost their lives as a result of 136 landslides, 95 flash floods and 45 cloudbursts that have been reported across the state since the onset of monsoon season. Also, as many as 826 roads, including two National Highways (NH), remain blocked across the state for vehicular traffic, affecting the road connectivity in many parts of the state.

As per the State Emergency Operation Centre, as many as 227 roads including NH 03 and 305 are closed in Kullu, 191 in Mandi, 146 in Shimla, 88 in Chamba, 44 in Kangra, 36 in Sirmaur, 32 in Una, 22 in Solan, 20 in Bilaspur, 11 in Lahaul and Spiti, six in Kinnaur and three in Hamirpur districts. As many as 1,480 distribution transformers including 811 in Kullu, 202 in Mandi, 171 in Chamba, 145 in Shimla, 142 in Lahaul and Spiti, eight in Solan and one in Kinnaur district are also disrupted, affecting the electricity supply in many areas of these districts.

As many as 336 drinking water supply schemes including 130 in Shimla, 79 in Mandi, 63 in Kullu, 42 in Chamba, 11 in Kangra, seven in Solan and four in Hamirpur district also remain disrupted.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall is very likely to continue across Himachal Pradesh as the State’s Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for nine districts of the state — Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, Kullu, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Solan and Sirmaur — for September 8, resulting in thunderstorms and lightning in isolated areas. As per the department, the state will continue to experience light to moderate rainfall till September 13.