The Himachal Pradesh government officially declared the entire state “disaster-affected” under the Disaster Management Act as relentless monsoon rains, landslides and flash floods battered multiple districts; CM Sukhu briefed the Assembly on losses, rescues and restoration priorities.
Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday formally declared the entire state “disaster-affected” under the Disaster Management Act after weeks of punishing monsoon weather caused widespread destruction, loss of life and prolonged disruption across the hills. Making the announcement in the Vidhan Sabha, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu cited extensive damage from cloudbursts, landslides and flash floods since June 20 and pegged losses at over ₹3,000 crore, with major impacts in Chamba, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Mandi, Shimla, Kangra and Hamirpur. The declaration expedites aid, relaxes procedural bottlenecks and activates national support mechanisms, the CM noted while updating the House on restoration of roads, telecom lines and power supply in critical corridors. pilgrimage traffic was heavy, the administration and state transport services coordinated to move thousands of stranded Manimahesh Yatra pilgrims to safety as road access opened intermittently between spells of rain. Air sorties ferried rations and evacuated patients from remote pockets while satellite phones were deployed to plug communication gaps in high-risk valleys. The government told the Assembly that these measures—combined with round-the-clock district control rooms—would continue until weather conditions stabilise and core lifelines are fully restored.
The Chief Minister also responded to opposition questions on enumeration of stranded pilgrims and accounting for damages, promising a transparent audit that would feed into revised relief packages and targeted compensation for families of victims, small businesses and orchardists hit during peak produce movement. With IMD red and orange alerts still active for parts of the state, the administration urged residents to avoid non-essential travel, particularly along steep cut slopes, nala crossings and known slide zones. The state’s public works, electricity and telecom teams—backed by mechanised earth-moving units—remain on high alert for renewed blockages if heavy rain bands re-intensify through mid-week.
While declaring the state disaster-hit unlocks faster aid, the tough work lies ahead: restoring thousands of kilometres of link roads, rebuilding washed-out bridges and culverts, and securing unstable hill faces before the next weather system. The government said it is mapping the worst-affected habitations for phased rehabilitation, prioritising schools and primary health centres to keep essential services running. Experts warn that the combination of saturated slopes, downcutting streams and high sediment loads can trigger slip failures even after rain recedes, reinforcing the need for sustained vigilance through September. As Himachal navigates this crisis, the disaster-hit status is both a legal lever for relief and a sobering recognition that recovery will be marathon, not sprint.
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