National News: Several areas in Himachal Pradesh, including Shimla, Bilaspur, and Solan, were hit by heavy rainfall on Tuesday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for parts of Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, and Sirmaur districts, warning of thunderstorms and intense rain on July 16. Rain is expected to continue across the state until at least July 21, according to the forecast.
The continuous rainfall has caused a slight drop in temperatures, with Una and Dhaula Kuan recording the highest at 32.5°C.
Monsoon Turns Deadly: 106 Lives Lost So Far
The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) reported that between June 20 and July 15, 106 people have died due to monsoon-related incidents. Out of these, 62 deaths were caused by direct effects of the weather like landslides, cloudbursts, flash floods, drowning, lightning, and falling from heights. The remaining 44 deaths occurred in road accidents, many of which were caused by slippery or damaged roads due to the rain.
More details reveal that:
- 15 people died due to cloudbursts,
- 12 fell from trees or rocks,
- 11 drowned,
- 8 were swept away in sudden floods,
- 5 each died due to lightning and snake bites,
- 1 each lost their life in a landslide and fire.
The worst-hit areas in road accidents include Mandi (4 deaths), Kullu (7 deaths), and Kinnaur (5 deaths).
Widespread Damage to Homes, Roads, and Water Supply
The heavy rain has not only taken lives but also caused serious damage to infrastructure:
- 384 houses have been completely destroyed,
- 666 homes, 244 shops, and 850 animal shelters have been damaged,
- 199 roads are currently closed, making travel difficult,
- 171 drinking water projects have been disrupted, especially in Mandi (142), Kangra (18), and Sirmaur (11).
- Mandi district has the highest number of blocked roads (141), followed by Kullu (35) and Kangra (10). The state government is working to reopen the roads and restore water supply.
State Seeks Help from Centre
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Tuesday. He informed the central government that the state has suffered losses of nearly 1,000 crore due to floods, cloudbursts, and landslides, and requested immediate assistance for recovery and relief work.
