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Himachal Pradesh monsoon causes 70 deaths and ₹910 crore in damage
Himachal Pradesh is facing severe disruption due to heavy monsoon rains, which have resulted in 70 deaths and over ₹910 crore in damages between June 30 and August 11. The State Emergency Operation Centre reports that 204 roads are currently blocked, including major national highways, significantly impacting inter-district connectivity. The weather has also damaged critical infrastructure, affecting 82 water supply schemes and 45 power transformers.
The Shimla Meteorological Office has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts, including Kangra, Mandi, and Sirmaur, with wet weather expected to persist through mid-August. In response to the weather, educational institutions in the Kullu subdivision have been closed.
Separately, the state government has implemented a new Widow and Orphan Cess of 0.60 rupees per litre on petrol and high-speed diesel. This levy, which came into effect on August 11, was authorized under the Himachal Pradesh Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to fund welfare measures for widows and orphans.
Entities
Himachal Pradesh · Jagat Singh Negi · Kullu · Mandi · Shimla · Shimla Meteorological Office · State Emergency Operation Centre · State Emergency Operations Centre · Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] 70 people died in rain-related disasters in Himachal Pradesh between June 30 and August 11. desitalkchicago.com · www.khabarfast.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Cumulative damage to public property in Himachal Pradesh has exceeded ₹910 crore. desitalkchicago.com · www.khabarfast.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Approximately 82 water supply schemes have been disrupted by the monsoon. desitalkchicago.com · thefederal.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] At least 204 roads are currently blocked across the state. desitalkchicago.com · thefederal.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The meteorological department issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in several districts. thefederal.com · english.mathrubhumi.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The state government imposed a 0.60 rupee per litre Widow and Orphan Cess on petrol and diesel. www.news18.com