Himachal Pradesh Reports 303 Deaths Since Monsoon Began: SDMA

Since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, a total of 303 people have died in Himachal Pradesh, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) reported on Sunday. Of these, 152 deaths were caused by rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods, and collapsed buildings. The other 146 people lost their lives in road accidents, mostly due to slippery roads and damaged highways.

Roads and Infrastructure Hit Hard

The heavy monsoon rains have badly affected the state’s infrastructure, with nearly 400 roads, including NH-03 and NH-305, remaining blocked. Power supply has also been disrupted, with 208 electricity transformers out of service. In addition, 51 water supply schemes have stopped working. Mandi district saw the most road closures, with 220 routes blocked, including parts of NH-03. Kullu reported 101 blocked roads, including NH-305, which is closed at several points in Banjar and Balichowki. Other districts facing road blockages include Chamba (24), Kangra (21), Una (12), Shimla (8), Sirmaur (9), Kinnaur (2), Lahaul-Spiti (1), and Bilaspur (2).

Power and Water Supply Disruptions

Mandi district suffered the largest power outage, with 134 transformers out of service. Other affected districts included Chamba (26), Kinnaur (23), Kullu (17), and Kangra (6). Water supply was disrupted mainly in Mandi (36 schemes) and Lahaul-Spiti (2), with minor interruptions reported in other districts. Authorities have sent teams to clear roads, restore power, and provide emergency water supply, but ongoing heavy rainfall is slowing down the recovery work.

Safety Warnings for Residents

The SDMA has asked people living in risky areas to stay alert, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow official instructions as the monsoon continues.