Deadly Floods Strike Himachal Pradesh, Claiming 70+ Lives; Indian Air Force Rescues 780+ in Last 48 Hours.
Continuous Rain Ravages Himachal Pradesh: Over 70 Lives Lost, Indian Air Force Rescues 780+ in Last 48 Hours from Flood-Hit Regions.
Numerous roads remain obstructed, and educational institutions in the Shimla capital are instructed to close as the Indian Air Force and disaster response squads collaborate to relocate residents from susceptible, low-lying regions.
The current monsoon season is notably intense…Analyzing the data, there has been a surplus of 43% rainfall in Himachal Pradesh since June 1. Over the next 4-5 days, intermittent rainfall is anticipated. Controlled precipitation is expected in the state until August 25,” stated the IMD.
Ongoing rescue endeavors are underway in Summer Hill and Krishna Nagar localities. According to news agency PTI, a total of 14 casualties have been retrieved from Summer Hill, five from Fagli, and two from Krishna Nagar.
On Thursday, the government introduced a new application aimed at promptly sharing live updates regarding the flood scenario in impacted regions.
Dubbed the ‘FloodWatch’ app, it will gather information from 338 monitoring stations and transmit real-time flood alerts across 23 states and Union Territories, as explained by Kushvinder Vohra, Chairperson of the Central Water Commission (CWC).
Key Developments Regarding the Heavy Rains in Himachal Pradesh
– Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in the Kangra district, specifically Indora and Fatehpur.
– A cloudburst on Sunday night resulted in the washing away of residences in certain districts. The abrupt and heavy rainfall led to flooding of roads and left residents stranded.
– The state government has formally requested the central government to declare the ongoing situation a “national disaster” in Himachal Pradesh. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu noted that the torrential rains have already inflicted a significant economic loss of approximately ₹75,000 crore on the state during this year’s monsoon.
– The cumulative number of fatalities due to rain-related incidents since Sunday night has risen to 72, with Shimla accounting for 21 of these casualties.
– The state has encountered blockages on approximately 650 roads, along with disruptions to 1,135 transformers and 285 water supply systems.
– As of Wednesday, Principal Secretary (Revenue) Onkar Chand Sharma revealed that the ongoing monsoon season has resulted in financial losses amounting to ₹7,500 crore.
– Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu indicated that it will take a year to restore the infrastructure that has been impacted by the extensive rains this monsoon. He highlighted that the approximated damages stemming from the significant instances of heavy rainfall, both during this week and in July, aggregate to around ₹10,000 crore.
– The IMD’s forecast indicates moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning for the subsequent 48 hours.
– In the coming two days, the districts of Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, and Solan Sirmaur are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall.
– The outlook for the following 3 to 4 days suggests the continuation of moderate precipitation, often accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, across several regions of the state.
