At least 69 people have lost their lives and 37 are reported missing as Himachal Pradesh grapples with widespread devastation caused by relentless monsoon rains, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Friday. The state has also recorded 110 injuries amid multiple incidents of cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides.
A red alert for heavy rainfall remains in effect across all districts until Monday, July 7, as the state braces for more extreme weather.
According to the Chief Minister, 14 cloudbursts have been reported since the onset of the monsoon, wreaking havoc on essential infrastructure. Roads, drinking water supply lines, and power systems have all sustained significant damage, plunging many areas into darkness and leaving thousands without basic necessities.
Addressing the media, Mr Sukhu assured that the state government “stands firmly with the affected families” and announced an immediate assistance of ₹5,000 per family to help them arrange rental accommodation. Intensive relief and rescue efforts are underway, with Mandi district identified as the worst hit. Operations are focused particularly in the Thunag and Bagsayed areas—both falling under the constituency of former Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition, Jairam Thakur. Karsog and Dharampur in Mandi have also seen extensive destruction.
The humanitarian situation is worsening as over 500 roads have been blocked and more than 500 power distribution transformers have failed, causing widespread power outages. The growing scarcity of food and clean water has prompted concerns of an impending humanitarian crisis.
Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the situation with Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Chhattisgarh. He assured continued central assistance, including the deployment of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, with reinforcements on standby if required.
As rain continues to batter the hill state, officials warn that the full scale of the damage may not yet be clear, and efforts are ongoing to reach remote and cut-off regions.
