State suffers Rs 2,623 crore rain losses, 310 lives lost

Himachal Pradesh has suffered losses of over Rs 2,623.36 crore in the current rain disaster with huge damage to public infrastructure like roads and bridges and private property across the state.

Making a statement in the Vidhan Sabha today about the current situation due to incessant rains, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri informed that 310 persons have died so far while 38 were missing in the current monsoons. He said maximum damage had been caused to roads, bridges, water and electricity supply with districts of Mandi, Kullu, Chamba and Lahaul Spiti being the worst hit.

He said during the last three days, 3,269 pilgrims — 1,730 men, 1,259 women and 280 children — on the Manimahesh Yatra had been evacuated. “The NDRF and the SDRF have been deployed all along the yatra route and personnel from the Mountaineering Institute at Manali had also joined rescue operations,” he said. The yatra has been suspended following heavy rains and damage in Chamba between August 24 and 26.

Agnihotri said mobile phone services and road connectivity had been restored up to Chamba town. Power and telecommunication services had been restored even in Kullu district, he added. “However, the Manali-Leh road is blocked at several locations and efforts are underway to open it. The tourists stranded on the Udaipur-Pangi route have been moved to safe locations,” he said.

He added that 136 persons in 98 vehicles stranded at Stingri had also been moved to safer places and people stranded at Sissu had been shifted out via Kaza-Kinnaur route.