Himachal Pradesh is facing the dire consequences of relentless rainfall, resulting in severe flooding that has claimed the lives of more than 70 people thus far. Indian Air Force (IAF) teams have been engaged in rescue operations, successfully evacuating over 780 individuals from flood-affected regions over the last two days.
The situation has led to numerous challenges, including blocked roads and the closure of schools in the capital city of Shimla. Disaster response teams and the IAF are working to evacuate people from low-lying and vulnerable areas.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the state has experienced scattered rainfall over the past 24 hours, with monsoon conditions on the higher side. The data indicates a 43% excess rainfall in Himachal Pradesh since June 1. The forecast suggests controlled rainfall for the state until August 25.
Various areas in the state have been affected, including Summer Hill and Krishna Nagar, where rescue efforts are ongoing. As per reports, 14 bodies were recovered from Summer Hill, five from Fagli, and two from Krishna Nagar.
To provide real-time updates on flood situations, the government has launched the ‘FloodWatch’ app. This application collects data from 338 stations and disseminates real-time flood information across 23 states and Union Territories, according to Central Water Commission (CWC) Chairperson Kushvinder Vohra.
Noteworthy updates on the situation include:
- Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conducted an aerial inspection of flood-affected regions in the Kangra district.
- A cloudburst on Sunday night resulted in homes being washed away in some districts, leaving roads flooded and people stranded.
- The state government has requested a declaration of a “national disaster” in Himachal Pradesh due to the extensive damage. Estimated losses in this year’s monsoon for the state amount to around ₹75,000 crore.
- The death toll from rain-related incidents since Sunday night has risen to 72, with Shimla accounting for 21 deaths.
- Over 650 roads were blocked, and disruptions were reported in 1,135 transformers and 285 water supply schemes.
- Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu estimated that it would take a year to rebuild the infrastructure damaged by the heavy rains this monsoon, with losses totaling about ₹10,000 crore from the two heavy rain spells.
- The IMD predicts moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning for the next 48 hours, and heavy to very heavy rainfall in certain districts over the next two days.
- The weather department anticipates moderate precipitation with thunderstorms and lightning for several more days across many parts of the state.
