Himachal suffers Rs 10,444 crore losses as rains wash away bridges, block 1,091 roads: PWD mins

Shimla, Aug 27,

Himachal Pradesh has been battered by an unprecedented spell of heavy rain between August 24 and 26, leaving behind a trail of destruction across multiple districts. Presenting a detailed report in a statement at the Assembly on Wednesday, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh termed the calamity “a cumulative disaster” that has so far inflicted an estimated loss of Rs 10,444 crore to the state.

The scale of damage in a single day was staggering – Rs 1,500 crore – with bridges, roads, orchards, and vital infrastructure either washed away or left crippled. Singh said the government’s immediate priority is to reopen blocked roads and reconnect stranded regions, especially in the peak apple harvest season.

According to figures shared in the House, 1,091 roads, 7 bridges (including one motorable and one pedestrian), and 912 pieces of heavy machinery have been directly impacted. Districts Kullu, Chamba and Kangra bore the brunt, together accounting for a major share of damages.

In Kullu-Manali, the heart of the state’s tourism economy, the disaster unfolded with brutal force. “The Old Manali steel bridge, Patlikuhl bridge, 17 Mile bridge, and Seobagh bridge have been completely washed away,” Singh informed. The only surviving connection on the Beas left and right banks is the Raison bridge, making it the sole lifeline for movement in the valley. Losses in Kullu alone are pegged at Rs 30 crore, with Rs 15 crore earmarked for immediate rehabilitation.

The road network has been ripped apart. Over 257 km of stretches have been rendered unusable, with 50 major link roads, including 12 under MDR classification, badly hit. In Parvati valley and Beas upper reaches, mobility remains severely disrupted.

In Kangra, damages are worth ₹30 crore, compounded by BBMB’s water release that damaged the Rihali bridge. Hamirpur has recorded losses of Rs 40 lakh, while Chamba including Dalhousie suffered damages worth Rs 25 crore, closing 234 km of roads. Statewide, 1,062 roads are closed, though Singh assured that “most will be reopened by August 29.”

The minister also highlighted the hardship faced by horticulturists and floriculturists. The closure of the Pandoh-Kullu section, a lifeline during apple season, has forced the government to arrange alternative routes. Meanwhile, two PWD bulldozer operators lost their lives in Mandi district, for whom the state has promised support, as their lives were laid line of duty.

Singh underlined that the NHAI is coordinating with state agencies to restore nearly 800 km of the national highway network, while the PWD is widening stretches to ensure round-the-clock connectivity for Manali and Lahaul-Spiti.

Despite the grim outlook, Singh struck a note of resilience: “Together we will overcome this disaster.”