Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 8 (HBTV): The monsoon fury continues to batter Himachal Pradesh, severely disrupting essential services and claiming more lives. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) under the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), 452 roads, 861 power transformers, and 244 water supply schemes remained non-functional across the state as of Wednesday evening due to heavy rainfall and related calamities.

The cumulative monsoon death toll has risen to 202, including 108 fatalities directly linked to rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods, and house collapses. An additional 94 people have died in road accidents during the monsoon season, the SEOC confirmed.

National Highways 305 and 5 are among the blocked routes, with Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla emerging as the worst-hit districts in terms of road blockages. In Kullu alone, 117 roads are blocked, while Mandi reported 108 disrupted water supply schemes and 228 damaged power transformers—among the highest figures in the state.

Officials said restoration work on roads, water supply, and electricity is underway on a war footing across affected districts. A senior SDMA official stated: ‘All line departments are actively engaged in restoration efforts, and our emergency operation teams are monitoring the evolving situation 24x7.’

The government has appealed to residents and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel to vulnerable hilly areas during the ongoing alerts. With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting continued rainfall over the next few days, the state remains on high alert.

Earlier today, as intense monsoon rains lashed Himachal Pradesh for the third consecutive year, scientists and environmentalists raised serious concerns over the increasing frequency of high-intensity rainfall, triggered by a dangerous combination of global warming, delayed western disturbances, and monsoonal systems.

An incident early Thursday morning highlighted the risk. A massive deodar tree collapsed onto the Environment Directorate building in the US Club area of Shimla around 5:30 am. The tree, which had been leaning precariously for days due to continuous rainfall, uprooted and caused partial damage to the building's roof and entrance gate. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

(ANI)