At least 63 people have lost their lives and dozens more remain missing as relentless monsoon rains triggered flash floods, landslides, and cloudbursts across Himachal Pradesh. The state has been in crisis since June 20, when the monsoon entered the region, unleashing widespread destruction and disrupting lives across several districts.
Mandi district has emerged as the epicenter of the devastation, reporting 17 fatalities and massive infrastructure damage. Particularly affected are Thunag and Bagsayed — areas within the Assembly constituency of former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Jairam Thakur. Karsog and Dharampur in Mandi have also witnessed large-scale destruction.
Officials confirmed that 13 deaths occurred in Kangra, six in Chamba, and five in Shimla. Fatalities have also been reported from Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kinnaur, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Sirmaur, Solan, and Una districts. More than 100 people have suffered injuries in the wake of the natural disaster.
Massive losses and collapsing infrastructure
The Himachal Pradesh government estimates that property damage has already crossed Rs 400 crore. However, DC Rana, Special Secretary of the State Disaster Management Authority and the Revenue Department, warned that the actual losses could be much higher. “Our current priority is focused on search, rescue, and restoration. A full damage assessment will take time,” he said.
Hundreds of homes have been reduced to rubble, 14 bridges washed away, and nearly 300 livestock — including 164 cattle — have perished. More than 500 roads have been rendered inaccessible, and over 500 electricity distribution transformers are non-operational, plunging tens of thousands into darkness and sparking a major water and food crisis.
Grim visuals and humanitarian concerns
Shocking visuals circulating on social media platforms depict the magnitude of destruction — rivers transformed into turbulent muddy torrents sweeping away homes, roads crumbling, and villagers scrambling through debris-strewn hillsides. In Shimla, a landslide hit the Dhalli suburb, captured in a viral video shared by a state broadcaster. In Sirmaur, another video showed boulders and mud tumbling down a hillside, as people narrowly escaped the cascading debris.
A heavy rain alert remains in place for all districts until July 7, heightening fears of further damage and danger. Relief and rescue teams are working round-the-clock in the worst-hit regions, especially Mandi, where over 40 people are still unaccounted for.
With infrastructure crippled, lives lost, and entire villages displaced, the situation in Himachal Pradesh remains dire as the state struggles to recover from the monsoon mayhem.