The monsoon has once again wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh. Life has been disturbed due to continuous rains in the state. The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert of heavy to very heavy rain for Chamba, Kangra and Kullu districts today (31 August). At the same time, a yellow alert of heavy rains has been issued in Mandi, Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur.

On September 1, there will be a yellow alert of rain in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Mandi and Shimla. The same situation will remain in Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur on September 2. The weather may be bad from September 3 to 5, although no alert is issued these days.

839 roads closed so far, Chamba’s bad condition

According to the State Emergency Operations Center, 839 roads are closed so far. These include 286 in Chamba, 197 in Mandi, 175 in Kullu, 61 in Kangra, 38 in Sirmaur and 28 in Shimla. Apart from this, three national highways are also stalled in Kullu and Mandi districts. The supply of electricity and water is also badly affected. 728 transformers and 456 drinking water schemes are closed.

320 people died so far

So far 320 people have lost their lives in the monsoon season, while 377 people are injured and 40 people are still missing. The maximum number of deaths have been 51 in Mandi and 49 in Kangra. 36 people have died in Chamba, 29 in Shimla, 28-28 in Kullu and Kinnaur.

Loss of crores in Himachal

So far 4041 houses have been damaged, out of which 824 have completely collapsed. The maximum 1592 houses were damaged in the mandi, of which 517 fell completely. Apart from this, 467 shops and 3646 animals have been destroyed.

A total of Rs 3042 crore has been damaged by the monsoon. In this, there has been a loss of 1693 crore to the Public Works Department and 1070 crores to the Water Power Department.

Heavy rain in the last 24 hours

In the last 24 hours, Chamba’s Chuadi received the highest 100 mm of rain. 90 in Jogindernagar, 70-70 in Rampur Bushahar and Dharamshala, 60-60 mm in Shimla, Katuala, Nahan and Palampur.

Kangra earthquake: On this day (April 4, 2025) in Kangra, Himachal, there was a devastating earthquake. Which has completed 120 years. More than 20 thousand people died in Kangra district in this earthquake. However, the population there was very less at that time. Also, houses were also small. Many buildings including life and property were damaged in this earthquake. But two buildings were left safe. One of these buildings was a Treasury office and another temple built by the British in Kangra district. Both these buildings neither fell nor did any cracks come in them.
Many programs were organized in Himachal to remember that disastrous earthquake and to pay tribute to those who lost their lives. A rally was organized by the District Disaster Management Authority Shimla on 4 April 1905 as a disaster awareness day by the district administration on Friday in memory of those who lost their lives in the horrific earthquake in district Kangra.

Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap flagged off the children’s rally to Sher e Punjab from CTO. While shouting slogans through the lower market, the children called upon people to be aware of earthquake and disaster.

Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap said that on April 4, 2025, 120 years of Kangra earthquake were completed. In that unfortunate hour, an awareness rally was taken out in memory of the calamity. He said that during this time, along with paying tribute to the people who were victims of disaster, awareness activities were organized about disaster management. During the earthquake in 1905, around 20 thousand people lost their lives while more than one lakh buildings were damaged.

He said that such a situation should never arise again and special emphasis is being given on disaster management to deal with such a disaster situation so that the loss can be reduced in the situation of disaster. Apart from this, a mock drill was also organized in all offices in the District Magistrate Building.

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