Monsoon mayhem: Himachal suffers Rs 1,952-crore loss due to natural disasters

Natural disasters triggered by torrential rain have caused nearly Rs 2,000 crore in losses across the state, with total damages mounting to Rs 1,952.51 crore since the onset of the monsoon.

As per the records of the State’s Revenue Department, the Public Works Department has been hit the most, suffering a loss of Rs 1,040 crore, while the Jal Shakti Department has suffered a loss of Rs 661.76 crore. Similarly, the Power Department has suffered a total loss of Rs 139.46 crore so far. The horticulture as well as the agriculture sector, two of the most important contributing sectors to the economy of Himachal, have suffered total losses of Rs 27.43 crore and Rs 11.45 crore, respectively.

As many as 108 persons across the state have lost their lives due to natural disasters, including cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides, etc. Till now, the state has witnessed 58 flash floods, 51 landslides and 30 cloudbursts, including the one that occurred in Tacklech area in Shimla district on Wednesday night. However, no loss of life was reported in the incident.

As per the State’ Meteorological Department, light to moderate rain along with a few spells of very heavy to heavy rain is very likely to continue across the state till August 13. The department has also issued an orange weather alert for several districts of the state for August 10 and 11, resulting in very heavy to heavy rain in isolated areas of the state. A yellow weather warning has also been issued for several districts of the state for August 8, 9, 12 and 13, resulting in heavy rain at isolated places of the state.

Meanwhile, very heavy to heavy rainfall at isolated places and light to moderate rain at most places continued across the state during the last 24 hours.

Bharwain in Una district received 120 mm rain — highest in the state. Naina Devi in Bilaspur received 90 mm, Kangra 62.5 mm, Dharamsala 42.5 mm, Nahan 32.6 mm, Bilaspur 30.2 mm, Una 22.2 mm, Sujanpur Tira 20 mm, Shimla 19 mm, Manali 12.2 mm, Palampur 11.6 mm, Sundernagar 9.4 mm, Kufri 9.2 mm and Solan 3.6 mm.