SHIMLA (Rajeev Sharma): Himachal Pradesh is set to face another spell of heavy rain over the next two days, even as the state continues to count the massive human and financial losses caused by this year’s monsoon.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in three districts on both Friday and Saturday. The weather system is expected to weaken from Sunday, bringing some relief to the hill state.
For Friday, Bilaspur, Kangra and Sirmaur have been placed under the heavy rain warning. On Saturday, the alert will remain in Bilaspur and Kangra, while Solan has also been included.
According to the weather department, there are currently no rainfall alerts for any district from Sunday through September 8.
Monsoon damage reaches Rs 1,235 crore
The latest rainfall warnings come against the backdrop of extensive destruction across Himachal Pradesh.
Between June 1 and September 3, the ongoing monsoon has caused an estimated ₹1,235 crore in damage to government and private property, according to the figures provided by the state authorities.
The Public Works Department (PWD) has suffered the largest share of the losses, with damage estimated at around ₹946 crore.
Heavy rain, landslides and related incidents have also damaged residential properties across the state. At least 111 houses have been completely destroyed, while another 472 homes have suffered partial damage.
266 deaths reported during monsoon
The monsoon has also taken a heavy toll on human life.
A total of 266 people have died during the period covered by the latest figures. Road accidents account for the highest number of fatalities, with 158 deaths reported.
Landslides have claimed 18 lives, while 13 people have died after drowning. Another death has been attributed to a flash flood.
The remaining fatalities were caused by various other incidents recorded during the monsoon period.
Rainfall remains below normal despite destruction
Interestingly, the cumulative rainfall recorded in Himachal Pradesh this monsoon has remained below the seasonal average.
From June 1 to September 3, the state received 578.5 mm of rainfall, compared with the normal figure of 630.2 mm for the same period.
That translates into rainfall being approximately 8% below normal.
Despite the overall deficit, short periods of intense rain have caused significant damage in vulnerable mountainous areas, triggering landslides, flooding and road disruptions.
Weather expected to improve after weekend
With another round of heavy rain forecast for parts of the state, authorities and residents in vulnerable areas remain on alert.
The weather outlook suggests conditions should gradually improve after Saturday, with the monsoon expected to weaken from Sunday. If the forecast holds, Himachal Pradesh is likely to see a temporary break from widespread heavy rainfall through September 8.
For a state already dealing with more than ₹1,200 crore in reported monsoon losses, the expected improvement could provide much-needed breathing space for rescue, repair and restoration work.
