September 2023
Brief Introduction
Unprecedented rains during the current monsoon season in several pockets have wreaked havoc across the state. Extreme events such as flash floods and cloudbursts and associated landslides, subsidence and sinking of land and complete failure of populated hill slopes devasted lives across the State. Current estimates indicate 404 people lost their lives, 38 people are still missing, and 377 have been injured in the various events across the State. Besides this huge loss of human lives, 10,140 livestock perished, and 5,644 cowsheds too were destroyed. Damages to buildings have been significant with 2546 houses and 317 shops completely damaged and 10853 houses partially damaged leaving a large population to seek alternate places to live. Three extreme spells (8 to 11 July, 14 to 15 August, and 22 to 23 August) and 163 identified landslides and 72 flash floods have been responsible for most of the impact. Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan and Chamba districts were some of the worst affected.
Huge losses have occurred for agricultural and horticultural lands due to various hazardous landslides and flooding. Public property has been significantly damaged, especially rural, district and state roads; national highways, and in particular the four-lane roads. The Kiratpur-Manali four lane from Mandi to Manali and Kalka-Shimla four lane from Parwanoo to Solan were washed away at many places. Many irrigation and water supply schemes were also washed away. Critical buildings and public utility buildings like schools were also damaged. Many hydropower projects and transmission lines were damaged or rendered non-operational. Forest land and vegetation were also gravely affected by landslides. A total economic loss of more than Rs 12,000 Cr is being estimated by the State government at the moment.
Relief and Rehabilitation
Relief to families severely affected is urgent and critical. Families which have lost their homes will need to find safe places before winter sets in. Since farming and horticulture are the mainstay of livelihoods and subsistence, and many of them have been damaged needs urgent attention to restore or where not possible to find alternate sites. Special provisions will be required to enable since almost 70% of land in Himachal is classified as forest land, which is reserved under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. It is urgently needed that exemption be made for resettlement of displaced communities for habitation and agricultural (or horticultural) purposes. Procedures must be initiated by the state so that the necessary permissions can be obtained from the Central Government.
