Himachal Pradesh rain and landslides kill 74, cause Rs 10,000 crore loss

Himachal Pradesh has witnessed heavy rainfall and landslides that have led to the death of 74 people and substantial economic losses in last one week.

Landslides triggered by the heavy rains have wreaked havoc, particularly in Shimla. The collapse of a Shiva temple in Summer Hill alone claimed 21 lives.

The rain disaster has left a trail of destruction, causing an estimated loss of Rs 10,000 crore. The state's infrastructure, including roads and highways, has suffered extensive damage.

The disruption of transportation and communication networks has had a profound impact on daily life and economic activities.

Ongoing rescue and relief operations

Efforts to rescue stranded individuals and provide relief to affected communities are in full swing.  The combined efforts of local authorities, the Indian Army, and other emergency services have resulted in the successful evacuation of over 2,000 people from flood-hit areas.

The Indian Army, Air Force and other rescue personnel evacuated 309 people from the flood-affected area in Kangra district's Fatehpur and Pong Dam in Indora.

Rescue operations are still underway at the landslide sites in Shimla. So far, 14 bodies have been recovered from Summer Hill, five from Fagli and two from Krishnanagar, reported India Today.

Rebuilding and recovery ahead

As Himachal Pradesh works towards recovery, the focus turns to rebuilding damaged infrastructure and supporting affected communities.

As per the state emergency operation centre, Himachal witnessed 113 landslides in 55 days since the onset of monsoon. The Public Works Department (PWD) has suffered a loss of Rs 2,491 crore and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) about 1,000 crore, officials told PTI.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that rebuilding the infrastructure damaged by the recent landslides is a "mountain-like challenge".

Heavy rains in other states

Rescuers have pulled out four more bodies from the debris at a resort in Uttarakhand's Lakshman Jhula that was hit by a landslide following heavy rain on Monday. The death toll in the state has now reached 10 after heavy rains and landslides.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast very heavy rainfall in several places in Odisha till August 19. IMD has issued an orange alert for 15 districts on Friday.

Army and NDRF teams on Thursday rescued nearly 300 people from marooned villages in Punjab's Kapurthala as relief and rescue work continued in flood-affected districts in the state.

Six boats were pressed to rescue the people caught in the floods and all those evacuated were shifted to relief camps, an official told PTI.

What caused the landslides in Himachal

The recent landslides in Himachal Pradesh have been caused by a combination of factors, including:

Heavy rains: The state has received record rainfall in the past few weeks, with some areas receiving more than 1000 mm of rain in the past month. This has caused the ground to become saturated and unstable, making it more likely for landslides to occur.

Deforestation: The state has lost a significant amount of forest cover in recent years, which has left the slopes more exposed to erosion and landslides.

Geological factors: Himachal Pradesh is located in a mountainous region with steep slopes and unstable soil. This makes it more prone to landslides than other parts of India.

Human activity: Human activity, such as construction and road building, can also contribute to landslides. When slopes are disturbed, it can destabilize the ground and make it more likely for landslides to occur.