Shimla/Dehradun | July 7, 2025 : Heavy monsoon rains have triggered a series of devastating natural disasters across Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, leading to widespread destruction and loss of life. As per official data released on Monday, at least 78 people have died in Himachal Pradesh following 23 flash floods, 19 cloudburst incidents, and 16 major landslides reported since the beginning of July.

In addition to the tragic death toll, over 100 people have been injured, and several remain missing, prompting large-scale search and rescue operations by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local police teams. The Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, and Chamba districts have been hit the hardest, with roads and bridges swept away, cutting off entire villages from basic services.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has called the situation “grave” and announced ₹15 crore in emergency relief funds to each affected district. He also said over 2,000 tourists have been rescued so far from isolated regions in Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti, where mobile connectivity and road access have been completely disrupted.

“Road networks have collapsed in several areas. We are prioritising aerial evacuations and food supply drops. The damage to infrastructure is massive,” the CM stated at a press briefing in Shimla.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Uttarakhand, the Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for four districts – Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, and Bageshwar – warning of potential landslides, flash floods, and further cloudbursts in the coming 48 hours.

The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) has placed disaster response teams on high alert and warned residents in vulnerable areas to shift to safer locations. The Char Dham Yatra has been temporarily suspended due to fears of fresh landslides en route to Kedarnath and Badrinath.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami urged people not to take unnecessary travel risks and announced the setting up of temporary relief camps with food, medicine, and shelter. He confirmed that 14 people had been injured in minor landslides over the past 48 hours, though no fatalities were reported yet.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the extreme weather patterns to intense low-pressure systems forming over the Himalayan region, driven by climate change and erratic monsoon behaviour.

National highways and railway tracks have also suffered severe damage. NH-5 and NH-3 in Himachal remain closed in multiple stretches, while train services between Kalka and Shimla are suspended due to landslides blocking tracks.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has spoken to both state chief ministers and assured central assistance, including helicopters, relief material, and additional rescue teams.

With rains expected to continue over the next three days, authorities have urged extreme caution and advised people in high-risk areas to stay indoors or move to designated shelters.

As India continues to reel under the unpredictable fury of the monsoon, the death toll may rise further if weather conditions do not improve.