Monsoon havoc in Himachal: 17 dead, Rs 300 crore estimated loss in one week, says minister Jagat Singh Negi
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 reported particularly in parts of Kullu and Dharamshala.
'This time, the monsoon arrived very early. The flash floods, especially in Kullu and Dharamshala areas, have caused sudden devastation. Seventeen people have died across districts due to rain-related incidents,' said the minister.
Negi said the heavy downpour has severely disrupted road connectivity, electricity lines, and water supply schemes in several parts of the state. 'In the last evening and this morning, around 37 roads were reported blocked, and nearly 47 distribution transformers (DTRs) were damaged, affecting the electricity supply. However, no National Highway is currently closed, and restoration work is actively underway,' he said.
He added that in some areas, small bridges have been washed away, further hampering local connectivity. 'Initial estimates suggest that the damages caused by heavy rains in just one week have crossed Rs 300 crore,' Negi informed.
All departments, including the Public Works Department (PWD), are working around the clock to restore disrupted infrastructure. 'Efforts to restore road access and power lines are ongoing, with priority being given to critical areas,' he said.
Negi also mentioned that mock drills and district-level preparedness exercises have been conducted in recent days to enhance disaster response capabilities. 'All district officials have been instructed to remain on high alert and ensure immediate relief to affected people during any eventuality,' he added.
'One person managed to save himself, while others were swept away. Search operations are currently underway to locate the missing persons. Teams have been deployed for rescue and recovery.'The minister stated on the Dharamshala flash flood incident.
The minister also urged tourists to remain cautious during the monsoon season. 'People visiting the hills must take all necessary precautions while travelling, especially during this period of heavy rainfall. They should stay updated with local advisories and avoid venturing into vulnerable areas,' Negi advised.
As monsoon-related incidents continue to unfold, the Himachal Pradesh government remains on alert, closely monitoring the evolving situation and pushing for fast-track restoration efforts. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Jitendra Singh announces plans for area-specific weather forecasting amid rise in cloudburst, flashfloods in Himachal
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 1 (ANI): Amid increasing concern over the surge in cloudbursts and flashfloods in Himachal Pradesh during the monsoon season, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Jitendra Singh said the Centre is working on implementing area-specific and more accurate weather forecasting systems to help mitigate disaster risk and improve preparedness. The Union Minister was in Shimla to formally announce the appointment of Rajeev Bindal as the new President of the Himachal Pradesh BJP unit for a third term. Speaking to reporters, Jitendra Singh acknowledged that while weather prediction systems have significantly improved over the years, cloudburst forecasting remains one of the biggest scientific challenges, particularly in hilly terrain such as Himachal Pradesh. 'The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) office in Shimla is one of the oldest in the country, and we have a robust forecasting system in place. But I must also say that while forecasting overall has improved remarkably, the ability to predict cloudbursts is still limited. It remains a complex phenomenon due to the highly localised and intense nature of these events,' he said. The Minister said that the government has taken several steps in recent years to strengthen local-level weather monitoring and prediction capabilities. 'We are actively working to enhance the forecasting system further, and soon, we will have area-specific forecasts, tailored to particular regions and vulnerable zones,' Singh announced. 'We have already started village-wise forecasting for the benefit of farmers, which will gradually be expanded to other sectors, including disaster management,' he said. He also disclosed that the number of Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) across the hill state and other parts of the country would be increased substantially. 'The installation of more automatic weather systems will significantly improve data collection and forecast accuracy. You will soon see a noticeable difference in the precision and timeliness of weather alerts,' Singh added. The Minister's remarks come at a time when Himachal Pradesh has witnessed a sharp increase in extreme weather events, including cloudbursts, landslides, and flash floods, many of which have led to loss of life and property in recent years. These events have triggered calls for better early warning systems and more localised weather alerts to assist local administration and residents in taking timely action. Singh's assurance of more granular weather forecasting also aligns with the Centre's broader push to mainstream science and technology into disaster risk reduction strategies. The Union government is expected to roll out the upgraded systems in phases over the coming months, starting with high-risk districts. (ANI)
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
SCADA project to automate Chennai reservoirs operation makes slow progress; WRD aims to complete by Northeast monsoon
The project to automate the operation of the city reservoirs and develop decision support for water management has slowed down, as the Water Resources Department awaits the release of the National Disaster Mitigation Fund. Though the project was chalked out a year ago, it has not made significant progress in terms of instrumentation installation. However, the department is confident of completing the work by the onset of the Northeast monsoon, which brings in a major share of annual rainfall to Chennai. The opening of the floodgates of reservoirs, including Chembarambakkam and Red Hills, renews concerns on impending inundation in the downstream areas during every Northeast monsoon. In a key effort to reduce flooding, increase response time, and enable transparency in sharing reservoirs' storage data, the department will introduce the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) based integrated reservoir automation system. Officials said work is in progress, however at a slow pace, for automated flood control and real-time monitoring of the storage. The project aimed at fixing automatic water level recorders, flow sensors, and gate sensors to automate shutters operation, manage water discharge during peak inflow, and reduce flood risk in low level areas. The department is constructing an integrated command control centre at Chepauk and connected with sub-control centres in Red Hills, Poondi and Chembarambakkam reservoirs. When the SCADA based system is in place, reservoirs' shutters can be operated remotely from Chepauk and analyse inflows and changes in water levels to control flood discharge. The integrated command centre would have graphical representations of the reservoirs' network-inflow rate from various points, outflow level, position of sluice gates and storage. Various real-time data would be analysed to assess the exact time required for the reservoirs to fill up and need to store or release water. The decision support system would also allow real-time sharing of information with other institutions and government agencies and enhance flood management. The Rs. 32 crore project will help accurately predict reservoir capacity and optimise water resource management during summer months, officials said. A 'Near line disaster recovery centre' is also being established in Alandur that would function as a backup location for critical data recovery and operation during extreme weather events. On the delay in project, officials said efforts are being taken to implement the project by this upcoming monsoon.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
213cr relief estimated for Maha farmers
Mumbai: The state govt has estimated that a compensation of Rs 213 crore will be required to be paid to farmers for the loss of agricultural crops and life due to unseasonal rains, storms, and lightning in the state. Responding to supplementary questions during Question Hour in the legislative council, relief and rehabilitation minister Makarand Jadhav-Patil said some districts suffered losses in March-April and others in May. He said around 75,355 hectares of agricultural land was affected, and 1.68 lakh farmers suffered losses. Around 63 people died due to lightning strikes in the state, said Jadhav-Patil. On declaring a wet drought, he said it is declared only if there is more than 65mm of rainfall in 24 hours. Filing of panchnamas is currently underway, and funds have been distributed departmentally for providing relief in case of house collapse, with Rs 5 crore each being distributed to Konkan, Nashik, and Amravati departments, Rs 12 crore each to Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar departments, and Rs 10 crore to Nagpur. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
