Himachal monsoon fury: 36 cloudbursts, 74 flashfloods, 63 landslides leave trail of destruction

Himachal floods

The Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh has been battered by an alarming surge in extreme weather events this monsoon, with 36 cloudbursts and 74 flashfloods wreaking havoc across six districts, according to a report by The Tribune. The calamities have claimed 35 lives so far, with Mandi district alone accounting for 16 cloudbursts, the highest in the state.

Fresh cloudbursts struck Kullu and Manikaran in Mandi early Sunday, compounding the devastation. While no fatalities were reported in these latest incidents, significant damage to infrastructure and private property has been documented. Government estimates place the total losses at a staggering Rs 2,000 crore.

The monsoon’s relentless assault has not only triggered cloudbursts but also 63 landslides, exacerbating the crisis. Mandi remains the epicentre of destruction, with 17 deaths attributed to cloudbursts and another 18 to flashfloods and landslides.

Experts warn that reckless construction, deforestation and climate change are accelerating the frequency and intensity of these disasters. Renowned environmentalist OP Bhuraita, cited by The Tribune, stressed the ecological fragility of the Himalayas, stating, “Large-scale infrastructure projects like four-lane highways, rampant cutting, excavation and tunnelling are causing irreversible damage. There must be minimal human interference.”

Soumya Dutta, another environmental expert, linked the extreme rainfall to rising global sea temperatures. “Warmer seas release more moisture into the atmosphere, while higher air temperatures intensify rainfall patterns,” he explained, as per The Tribune. Dutta cautioned that such events would likely escalate in the coming years, calling for urgent mitigation strategies.

A weather official was cited by The Tribune as saying that a cloudburst is defined as rainfall exceeding 100 mm within an hour, a phenomenon increasingly tied to global warming.

With the monsoon far from over, the state faces an uphill battle in recovery and rehabilitation. The repeated disasters have exposed the consequences of unchecked development in ecologically sensitive zones. As The Tribune reported, the need for sustainable policies and climate resilience has never been more urgent.