A total of 17 people have lost their lives in the last one week as heavy rain-trigger flash floods wreaked havoc across Himachal Pradesh. And at least cause infrastructural damage 300 crores, Minister of State Jagat Singh Negi said on Saturday.
Speaking to ANI in Shimla, Negi confirmed that 17 people have lost their lives so far due to rain -related incidents across the state, with flash floods, especially in parts of Kullu and Dharmashala.
“This time, the monsoon arrived very early. Flash floods, especially in Kullu and Dharmashala regions, have suddenly devastated. Seventeen people have died in districts due to rain -related incidents,” he said.
According to the officials aware of the case, the toll of death in the flash flood wreaked havoc on June 25 in Kangra and Kullu has gone up to seven after the recovery of another body. He said that the body of a minor girl known as Murati Devi was recovered from the river in Bakhhal village in Kulu district.
Negi said the huge decline has severely disrupted road connectivity, power lines and water supply schemes in many parts of the state. “The previous evening and this morning, about 37 roads were reported to be blocked, and about 47 distribution transformers (DTRs) were damaged, affecting the power supply. However, no national highway is currently closed, and the restoration work is actively running,” he said.
He said that in some areas, small bridges have been washed, further obstructed local connectivity. “Initial estimate suggests that the damage caused by heavy rains in just one week has crossed 300 million. ,
The passenger movement on the Badrinath-Rishikesh highway in Uttarakhand was temporarily stopped on Saturday after the debris fell. Heavy rains in many districts of Uttarakhand led the obstruction, forcing passengers to stay at safe places to travel to Badrinath, Kedarnath and Hemkand Sahib.
Srinagar Pauri Garhwal District Circle Officer (CO) Anu. Kumar told ANI that the presence of police has been established at both ends of the blocked highway. Kumar said, “A war is going on to open the highway,” emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Meanwhile, continuous rain in Uttarakhand has caused serious disruption. Chamoli police said in a post on X, “Badrinath National Highway has been blocked near Nandprayag and Bhanerpani. Work is going on to open the road.”
(With agency input)
