Himachal Tonite

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Monsoon 2024: Damage Assessment in Himachal

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The monsoon in Himachal Pradesh during 2024, active from 27th June to 2nd October, brought a total rainfall of 600.9 mm, about 18% below normal levels. Peak months like July recorded 180 mm against a normal 255 mm, and August saw 243 mm compared to the average 256 mm. September showed a slight positive deviation with 734 mm of rainfall. According to Director-cum-Special Secretary (DM), D.C. Rana, the state experienced 54 incidents of cloudbursts and flash floods, leading to 65 human casualties, with 33 still missing. Additionally, 47 landslides were reported, claiming five lives and causing a financial loss of ₹1,363 crore.

The worst-hit districts were Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla, where the most significant damage occurred during the night of July 31st to August 1st. In these three districts alone, 55 people lost their lives. Technological interventions, such as satellite data from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) and the State Centre on Climate Change, helped assess the damage, particularly in the Samej village in Shimla district, where 33 casualties were reported. Flash floods in the Samej Khad, a tributary of the Satluj River, caused extensive destruction to homes and infrastructure. The floodwaters increased the channel width from 35 meters to 118 meters, while the Kurpan Khad’s width expanded from 38 meters to 218 meters in some areas.

Climate factors, such as intense monsoon activity, orographic lifting, and climate change-induced warming, are believed to have intensified cloudbursts and associated flash floods. Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena emphasized the need for comprehensive studies on cloudburst phenomena involving institutions like IMD and IITM to mitigate future losses to human lives and property, given the vulnerability of mountainous regions to climate variations.

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