Himachal Pradesh Monsoon Losses Hit INR 1,662 Crore as 296 People Die in 74 Days

Himachal Pradesh has incurred cumulative financial losses of ₹1,661.97 crore due to continuous heavy rainfall, flash floods, and landslides during the 2026 monsoon season, according to data released by the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC). Over a 74-day period between June 30 and September 11, the extreme weather events led to 296 fatalities, leaving critical public infrastructure severely disrupted across multiple districts.

Infrastructure Hit Hard: PWD Bears 74% of Damages

The Public Works Department (PWD) suffered the heaviest structural damage, accounting for ₹1,231.59 crore—nearly three-quarters of the state government's overall financial losses. Landslides and overflowing rivers resulted in washed-away bridges, collapsed retaining walls, and damaged road stretches.

Addressing the situation, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh stated that while initial SEOC reports place losses at ₹1,231.59 crore, ongoing ground assessments indicate the department’s actual damage figure may reach between ₹1,500 crore and ₹1,600 crore. "Compared to the losses suffered in previous years, the damage this time is considerably less, which is a positive aspect for us," Singh said. "However, there has still been damage of around ₹1,500–1,600 crore across the state." Himachal Monsoon: Death Toll Rises to 256; Rain-related Damage Crosses Rs 1,202 Crore.

Human Toll and Multi-Sector Disruptions

The disaster report confirmed 296 fatalities across the state. Out of these, 119 deaths were directly caused by rain-triggered natural disasters, while 177 fatalities occurred in monsoon-related road accidents. Additionally, 520 people sustained injuries, while 521 domestic animals and 521 poultry birds were killed.

Apart from the PWD, the Power Department emerged as the second-worst affected, reporting losses worth ₹368.68 crore. The Agriculture Department suffered damages of ₹21.50 crore, while Horticulture reported ₹12.27 crore in losses. The Rural Development sector incurred losses of ₹9.92 crore, and damages to private property and other public assets were estimated at ₹4.70 crore.

Current Road Blocks and Power Outages

Transportation and utility networks remain partially impaired across several hill districts. As of September 12, 67 roads remain blocked for vehicle traffic, with Mandi district reporting the highest disruption with 36 closed roads, followed by Kullu with 11 and Kangra with 10. Himachal Records 9% Monsoon Rainfall Deficit; Weather to Remain Largely Dry for Next Five Days: IMD.

Electricity distribution has also been affected, with 142 Distribution Transformer Regions (DTRs) out of service. Mandi remains the most affected with 92 disrupted transformers, followed by Shimla with 34 and Kullu with 16. Water supply systems across the state have remained operational without reported outages.

Restoration Plans Scheduled for October

With the monsoon entering its final phase, the state government is preparing large-scale repair work. Minister Singh stated that the PWD will begin metallic tarring and surfacing on approximately 800 kilometers of roads starting in October, allocating 350 to 400 kilometers per zone. Work that was delayed earlier in the year due to crude oil price fluctuations will also be covered during the October–November restoration drive.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 12, 2026 05:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).