The monsoon fury in Himachal Pradesh has claimed 257 lives since June 20, with widespread damage to public infrastructure, homes, and livestock, according to the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA).
District-wise figures show Kangra (28 deaths), Mandi (26), and Kullu (11) as the worst-hit. Of the fatalities, 133 were caused by rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods, drowning, and electrocution, while another 124 people lost their lives in road accidents.
The state has also reported 331 injuries and 37 people missing. Landslides and flash floods accounted for 16 deaths, while drowning incidents claimed 27 lives. Other causes included lightning, fire, snake bites, accidental falls, and electrocution.
Property losses have been staggering. Over 1,028 houses were fully destroyed, 2,157 partially damaged, along with 285 cow sheds, 699 shops and factories. Public property worth more than ₹2.14 lakh crore has been damaged, including key roads, power lines, water supply schemes, and government institutions.
The agriculture and livestock sector has also been hit hard, with the death of 1,625 cattle and over 25,700 poultry birds.
Mandi district bore the heaviest financial damage, exceeding ₹1,180 crore, followed by Kangra and Kullu. Mandi also reported maximum disruption, with 203 roads blocked and 458 power transformers out of service. In Kullu, 79 roads remain closed, including National Highway-305 at Jhed (Khanag) due to a major landslide.
Elsewhere, water supply schemes were severely hit in Chamba (24), Kangra (41), and Mandi (44). In Kinnaur, six roads including NH-5 were blocked, while Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu reported outages due to flash floods and high-tension line faults.
Authorities have warned that intermittent rains may worsen the situation in the coming days and urged residents to avoid travel through vulnerable stretches while following safety advisories.