Shimla, Aug 2
The Himachal Pradesh Disaster Management Authority claimed that as many as 53 people are either dead or buried under debris in the recent flash-flood incidents increasing the total casualties in the Monsoon season to over 200 since onset of monsoon June 27, this year.
The SDMA issued a press release today stating that Shimla district may have the most casualties, with 33 people, including school students, still untraced. In Mandi district, five bodies were recovered, and five people are still missing. Kullu district, the epicenter of the catastrophe, recorded nine casualties, including one dead and nine missing.
During the entire monsoon season this year, the state registered 140 casualties, with 254 injured and 54 still missing. Out of the 140 casualties, 73 died due to monsoon-related vagaries, and 67 died in rain-related road accidents. If we add the 54 missing in the recent disasters, the number of casualties is likely to be over 200. There are bleak chances of survival for the 54 missing persons in the state.
Also read: Death toll rises to six, 47 still missing in Himachal Pradesh after devastating floods
The breakdown of rain-related mayhem shows that out of the 73 deceased, 19 people were killed by accidental drowning, 12 due to snake bites, 25 from tree and steep rock falls, three from other rain-related reasons, nine from electrocution, three in cloudbursts, and one in a landslide. However, if we add up the number of probable casualties in the last 36 hours, this would be much higher.
Out of the 67 road accidents attributed to rains, 15 died in Kangra, ten in Solan, eight in Shimla, seven each in Mandi and Chamba, six in Kullu, four each in Sirmaur and Una, three in Bilaspur, two in Kinnaur, and one in Hamirpur.
Monsoon has damaged as many as 218 roads, 259 distribution power transformers, and 166 water supply schemes in the state. The state administration claimed that 55 people were evacuated, and 25 stranded people were moved to safer places. In Kullu district alone, 44 people were evacuated, and 25 were stranded. Sixty-one houses were fully damaged or washed away in the flash floods, and 42 are partly damaged. Six schools, three shops, and 22 cattle sheds were also washed away in the state.
The road communication ravaged the world tourist destination Manali as a major portion of the four lanes was washed away at three to four places. Six motorable bridges and 32 footbridges were also snapped, cutting off road and foot communication to the affected areas. Seventeen vehicles and three fish ponds were also washed away. One health institution and a vegetable market yard were destroyed in the flash flood.
The monsoon losses were estimated to be up to 649 Crores; however, the latest losses from the 36 hours of devastation are likely to be updated soon. In Kullu district alone, a loss of Rs 223 Crores was reported. The government released around 5.60 Crores to the family members who lost their loved ones. The Public Works Department suffered around 300 Crores in infrastructure loss and Horticulture 140 Crores. According to the IPH minister, around Rs 315 Crores of loss was incurred in the Kurpan Khad drinking water scheme after the cloud bursts.
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