Shimla: Himachal Pradesh has suffered cumulative financial losses exceeding Rs 835 crore and a total of 152 fatalities during the ongoing monsoon season between June 30 and August 8. Severe rain-induced incidents, including landslides, flash floods, and weather-related accidents, have caused extensive destruction to public infrastructure across the hill state.Departmental reports indicate that the public works department incurred the heaviest damage at over Rs 615 crore, followed by the Jal Shakti Vibhag with losses exceeding Rs 199 crore.Data from the State Emergency Operation Centre showed 153 roads blocked across the state as of Saturday evening. Mandi recorded the highest number of blockages at 65, followed by Kullu with 42 and Shimla with 26. Additionally, 92 power distribution transformers and 77 water supply schemes remained disrupted.Monsoon hazards—including landslides, flash floods, drowning, snake bites, electrocution, and falls—directly caused 66 deaths. Landslides killed 13 people in Lahaul and Spiti district and one in Chamba, while a flash flood claimed one life in Kangra district.Road accidents during the monsoon season claimed another 86 lives state-wide. Chamba recorded the highest road accident fatality count at 15, followed by Kullu (12), Sirmaur (11), Shimla (10), Kangra (10), Solan (8), Una (6), Bilaspur (4), Lahaul-Spiti (4), and Hamirpur (1).
