Himachal's Monsoon Mayhem: Unprecedented Damages and Political Backlash

Himachal Pradesh is grappling with the aftermath of a devastating monsoon season that has wreaked havoc across the state. Principal Media Advisor to the Chief Minister, Naresh Chauhan, reported that damages have surpassed Rs 5,000 crores, attributing the destruction to relentless rains, cloudbursts, and landslides over the past three months.

Addressing the media in Shimla, Chauhan highlighted the grim toll: 419 people have perished, with 236 fatalities linked to rain-related incidents and 183 to road accidents. He extended condolences to affected families and took a swipe at MP Kangana Ranaut, criticizing her absence during the crisis, labeling the BJP's 'actress experiment' a failure.

The State Disaster Management Authority indicated severe disruptions, with over 525 DTRs and 281 water supply schemes impacted, predominantly in Mandi district. Despite massive infrastructure losses, including 1,500 homes and 4,580 houses damaged, the government has worked swiftly to restore essential services as directed by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

(With inputs from agencies.)