News Brief
Himachal Suffers Rs 4,079 Crore Losses As Monsoon Wreaks Havoc: Report
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Himachal Pradesh has suffered losses worth Rs 4,079 crore due to heavy rains, landslides, cloudbursts, and flash floods since 20 June, news agency PTI reported, citing officials.
The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) reported 366 deaths, including 203 from rain-related incidents.
Landslides claimed 42 lives, cloudbursts 17, and flash floods nine.
Road accidents accounted for 163 deaths, while 41 people remain missing.
Authorities said rains have damaged 6,025 houses and 455 shops or factories.
Around 135 major landslides, 95 flash floods, and 45 cloudbursts have ravaged parts of the state since the monsoon began.
The frequency of landslides has risen steadily.
Officials noted that 869 roads, including three national highways—NH-3 (Mandi-Dharampur), NH-5 (Old Hindustan-Tibet), and NH-305 (Aut-Sainj)—are blocked for traffic.
Further, 1,572 power transformers and 389 water supply schemes were disrupted.
In Shimla district, landslides blocked the Shimla-Theog road near Chaila, leaving many vehicles, including Apple-laden trucks, stranded.
Seventeen Manimahesh pilgrims have died since the yatra began on 15 August.
Authorities ended search and rescue operations in Bharmaur-Manimahesh on Saturday (6 August).
Deputy Commissioner Chamba Mukesh Repaswal appealed to the general public to share missing persons’ details on helpline 98166-98166.
Manali recorded 24.2 mm of rainfall since Saturday (6 September) evening, followed by Naina Devi (16.8 mm), Dhaulakuan (16.5 mm), and Nahan (13.1 mm).
The Met department issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms and lightning on Sunday and Monday.
Between 1 June and 6 September, Himachal received 943.2 mm of rain—46 per cent above normal.
