Three significant landslides in Shimla, including the Shiva temple area in Summer Hill, claimed the lives of twenty-one individuals.
New Delhi: The death toll resulting from the monsoon rains in Himachal Pradesh rose to 74 on Thursday, with another body recovered from the debris of a Shiva temple in Shimla, while two additional casualties were reported in Chamba.
Among the casualties, twenty-one individuals lost their lives due to three major landslides in Shimla, including the one that occurred at the Shiva temple in Summer Hill.
Over the span of 55 days since the commencement of the monsoon, the state has experienced 113 landslides, leading to financial losses of ₹2,491 crore for the Public Works Department (PWD) and ₹1,000 crore for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
In the vicinity of Shimla’s Summer Hill, a segment of the railway tracks has been washed away, leaving the tracks suspended in mid-air.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu acknowledged the immense challenge of reconstructing the infrastructure ravaged by recent landslides, comparing it to a mountainous task.
Experts attribute the frequent occurrences of landslides to ill-planned construction practices in the ecologically sensitive Himalayas, diminishing forest cover, and structures erected near streams that obstruct natural water flow.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), moderate rainfall with thunder is anticipated at several places, accompanied by episodes of heavy rainfall at isolated locations in Shimla, Solan, Mandi, Chamba, and adjacent areas. The state encountered heavy rainfall for three consecutive days, starting from Sunday. Rainfall reduced after Tuesday, with only light showers in some regions on Thursday.
Since the monsoon’s onset on June 24, at least 217 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh.
The catastrophic rainfall in Himachal has not only caused infrastructure devastation but has also shattered entire families. A family spanning three generations, comprising seven members, was tragically wiped out in the Shimla temple landslide.
The collapse of the Shiv temple occurred when seven family members, including three children, were inside, as confirmed by officials.
Vinod, the brother of one of the deceased family members, Pawan, recounted the tragic incident, stating, “My brother, three children, sister-in-law, and five others, including one of our daughters, are gone. Rescuers are working to recover their bodies. I hope to at least perform their last rites, including those of my brother, before my own time comes,” in an interview with NDTV.
In addition to personal tales of loss, the livelihoods of thousands have been severely impacted in the rain-devastated state. The estimated ₹10,000 crore worth of damage across Himachal Pradesh does not capture the true extent of the catastrophe, which has dealt a heavy blow to individuals and businesses alike.
The state’s economy, driven by tourism and the apple trade, has been particularly hard-hit. Taxi drivers, who used to earn ₹2,000 per day, are now struggling with earnings as low as ₹200. Occupancy rates for hotels and guest houses, typically ranging from 50-60%, have plummeted to a mere 5%.