As the apple harvesting season begins in Seraj Assembly constituency of Mandi district, hundreds of fruit growers are facing a major challenge due to damaged roads and blocked pedestrian paths.

The recent rain disaster on June 30 has wreaked havoc on the road infrastructure in the region, adversely affecting transportation of agricultural and horticultural produce to distant markets.

While the Public Works Department (PWD) has managed to restore connectivity on some main roads, around 81 village link roads in the Seraj valley remain blocked.

This is causing serious delays for apple growers to start harvesting of crop in their apple orchards because they are unable to transport their horticultural produce to market, where timely delivery ensures better prices.

Om Prakash Thakur, a resident of Pakhrair panchayat, expressed his concern, stating, “Due to extensive damage to link and main roads, farmers are feeling helpless. Apples are ready for harvest, but we cannot move them to market in time.”

Critical road links like Chet-Cheuni, Jarol-Chakudgar-Jugandh, Janjehli-Bekhli, Janjehli-Gadagusain via Reshan, Kataru-Ruar, Sangalvara to Shadanagar, Pakhrair panchayat roads, Pandavshila-Dhar, Kuthah-Tungadhar, and Kuthah-Bakhalvar remain inaccessible. This has badly disrupted transportation of produce in many apple belt areas.

Ravinder Sisodiya of Jarol shared that the natural calamity has devastated the region. “Several families lost their homes, shops and livelihoods. Now, we are unable to harvest apples due to damaged roads. We are waiting for restoration to begin harvesting,” he said.

Farmers from other badly affected villages such as Pakhrair, Tungadhar, Bekhli, Ruar and Chet Cheuni have urged the administration to expedite road restoration.

Delays, they fear, will lead to heavy financial losses as apples lose value quickly if not transported in time.

Despite these challenges, the administration is working to restore connectivity. Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan is monitoring the situation.

On Saturday, he visited disaster-hit Pakhrair panchayat and assured locals that restoring road links to remote villages remains a top priority. “Restoration work has started for Daizy village in Thunag.

In extremely difficult conditions, PWD teams have entered flooded streams to continue work. Restoration of the Chail-Janjehli-Tungadhar road is also underway,” the DC informed.

Debris removal operations are progressing swiftly in Thunag bazaar and at Lambathach Degree College. Dredging work in local streams like Byond Khad and restoration at Bani Nala are also going on.

With apple harvesting time approaching fast, farmers are expecting early restoration of link roads to ensure their hard-earned crop reaches markets on time and there are no losses.

Chamba’s age-old Minjar fair, which symbolises the blossoming of maize and embodies the spirit of communal harmony, began with gaiety and fervour amid singing of traditional Kujari Malhar songs.

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, along with his wife Janaki Shukla, inaugurated the fair by hoisting the Minjar flag at the historic Chowgan ground.

Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said Chamba district, with its glorious history spanning over a thousand years, is known for its natural beauty and rich folk art and culture.

“The historic International Minjar Fair, renowned for its rich traditions, not only showcases the unique culture of Himachal Pradesh but also promotes social harmony,” he said.

Extending his best wishes, Shukla expressed hope that the event, which is a symbol of victory, brings joy and enthusiasm to the people of the state.

He also called upon everyone to preserve traditional folk culture and maintain social harmony.

The Governor expressed serious concern over the increasing prevalence of narcotic substances and emphasised the need for collective awareness to combat this social evil.

He advised the youth to stay away from drugs, besides flagging off an awareness rally aimed at spreading a strong message against drug abuse.

On this occasion, an anti-drug pledge was also administered. Earlier, the Governor offered Minjar (silk tassel) to presiding deity of Lord Raghuvir and Lord Lakshmi Narayan.

He also inaugurated and visited the sports competitions organised during the fair, as well as exhibitions set up by various departments and social organisations.

Under the Sampoornta Abhiyan, the Governor felicitated departmental officers and employees who had performed exceptionally at the district and sub-divisional levels.

President Municipal Council Neelam Nayar presented the traditional Minjar to the Governor. Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of the Minjar Fair Organising Committee, Mukesh Repaswal, honored the Governor on behalf of the committee.

The Deputy Commissioner said the cultural evenings of the fair have been designed to cater to the interests of all age groups.

Artistes from Chamba as well as other districts of Himachal Pradesh will get the opportunity to showcase their performances during the eight-day fair.

Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, his wife Neena Pathania; MLAs Neeraj Nayar, Dr Hans Raj, DS Thakur and Dr Janak Raj; District Agricultural Produce and Marketing Committee Chairman Lalit Thakur; Secretary to the Governor CP Verma; Chamba Superintendent of Police Abhishek Yadav; and Additional Deputy Commissioner Amit Mehra were also present on the occasion.

An ex-deputy mayor of Shimla has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards from encroached forest lands.

Filed by former Shimla deputy mayor Tikender Singh Panwar and activist advocate Rajiv Rai, the petition is likely to come up for hearing before a Bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai on Monday.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court had on July 2 directed the forest department to remove the apple orchards and plant forest species in their place, with costs to be recovered from encroachers as arrears of land revenue.

“The petitioners submit that the said order is arbitrary, disproportionate and violative of constitutional, statutory and environmental principles, thereby necessitating the intervention of the Supreme Court to prevent irreversible ecological and socio-economic harm in the ecologically fragile state of Himachal Pradesh,” the petitioners submitted.

The high court’s order, which mandates the blanket removal of apple trees without conducting a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), is arbitrary and contravenes the precautionary principle, a cornerstone of environmental jurisprudence, Panwar submitted.

Such large-scale tree-felling, particularly during the monsoon season, significantly heightens the risk of landslides and soil erosion in Himachal Pradesh, a region characterised by its seismic activity and ecological sensitivity, the petitioners submitted.

“Apple orchards, far from being mere encroachments, contribute to soil stability, provide habitats for local wildlife and form the backbone of the state’s economy, supporting the livelihoods of thousands of farmers,” they said, adding, the destruction of these orchards threatens not only environmental stability but also the fundamental right to livelihood enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution.

“The high court’s order lacked the requisite EIA to assess its environmental and socio-economic impacts, thereby violating the principles of reasonableness and proportionality as elucidated in cases such as Coimbatore District Central Co-operative Bank.

“The felling of apple trees during the monsoon season exacerbates ecological risks, including landslides and soil erosion, contradicting judicial mandates for environmental assessments as seen in T N Godavarman Thirumulpad vs. Union of India,” the petitioners said.

They said the economic ramifications are equally severe, as apple cultivation is a vital component of Himachal Pradesh’s economy, and its destruction threatens the livelihoods of small-scale farmers, thereby infringing upon their constitutional right to life and livelihood.

“In lieu of destructive felling, the petitioners propose sustainable alternatives, such as state acquisition of orchards for public purposes, auctioning of fruit and timber, or utilisation of resources for farmer cooperatives or disaster relief initiatives. These measures would align with the principles of sustainable development, balancing environmental conservation with economic imperatives,” the petition said.

The petition stated that as of July 18, reports indicate that over 3,800 apple trees have been felled in areas like Chaithla, Kotgarh and Rohru, with plans to remove up to 50,000 trees across the state.

“The enforcement of this order, as evidenced in public reports, led to the destruction of fully fruit-laden apple trees, evoking widespread public distress and criticism,” the petitioners submitted.

Himachal Pradesh is set to receive spells of heavy rainfall from July 26 onwards as the state’s Meteorological Department has issued a yellow weather warning for several districts from July 26 to 28.

During this period, heavy rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places of the state. The department has mentioned that light to moderate rain will continue to occur across the state till July 30.

During this period, maximum temperatures are likely to fall by 3°C to 5°C while minimum temperatures will remain normal.

Meanwhile, monsoon activity in the state was normal during the last 24 hours as the state received light to moderate rain at many places of the state.

Nagrota Surian in Kangra district received 50 mm rain, which was the highest in the state, followed by Naina Devi which recorded 30 mm rain.

Nahan received 28.1 mm, Kasauli 18 mm, Chamba 12 mm, Shimla 9.4 mm, Palampur 7.4 mm, Dharamsala 6.1 mm and Kangra 5.8 mm.

Also, maximum temperatures were in the range of 17°C to 35°C during the past 24 hours while minimum temperatures were in the range of 11°C to 26°C.

The maximum temperature in Shimla was 24°C, Dharamsala (30.1°C), Manali (26.2°C), Dalhousie (23.4°C), Kangra (32°C), Mandi (33.6°C), Kalpa (23°C), Nahan (29.1°C), Bhuntar and Sundernagar (33.6°C each), Solan (31°C), Bilaspur (35.6°C), Hamirpur (33.2°C), Chamba (29.9°C), Kufri and Narkanda (21.1°C each), Reckong Peo (28.2°C) and Kasauli (27.4°C).

A delegation led by Union Health Minister JP Nadda, BJP MPs and MLAs from Himachal along with former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today met Union Ministers Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari to seek Central assistance for restoration of the damaged infrastructure this monsoon.

Nadda was accompanied by Leader of Opposition and former CM Jai Ram Thakur, state BJP president Rajeev Bindal, MPs Anurag Thakur, Suresh Kashyap, Rajeev Bhardwaj, Kangana Ranaut, Indu Goswami, Sikander Kumar and Harsh Mahajan. Himachal BJP legislators Vinod Kumar, Hans Raj and Deep Raj were also part of the delegation.

Nadda, who had visited the rain ravaged parts of Mandi and Kullu district on July 7 apprised Shah about the havoc wreaked by rains on June 30.

They sought assistance for reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure from Shah, who assured of all possible help.

The delegation also called on Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to seek liberal financial assistance for reconstruction of the damaged roads and bridges, which had suffered damage running into several hundred crores.

Gadkari assured that the road infrastructure would be restored on a war footing.

The meeting comes in wake of CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, ministers and Congress leaders urging BJP leaders to plead the case of Himachal with the Centre.

Almost a dozen cloudbursts in Seraj, Nachan and Karsog areas of Mandi district caused massive damage to infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water supply schemes and electricity transformers.

More than 1,000 locals’ houses have been completely damaged, especially in Seraj Assembly segment represented by former CM Jai Ram Thakur.

An HRTC bus fell approximately 25 metres off the road, resulting in four deaths and injuries to many others, near Tarangla, close to Maseran in Sarkaghat subdivision of Mandi district today. The bus was en route from Sarkaghat to Durgapur when the mishap occurred.

According to Mandi SP Sakshi Verma, the incident took place within the jurisdiction of Sarkaghat Police Station.

Preliminary reports confirm that four persons — two males and two females — lost their lives on the spot. The injured were rushed to the Civil Hospital in Sarkaghat for immediate treatment.

Among the injured, three critically hurt passengers have been referred to AIIMS-Bilaspur for advanced medical care. The authorities are still verifying the exact number of passengers, though initial estimates suggest that approximately 31 people were on board at the time of the accident.

Local police and 108 ambulance service teams promptly reached the site and carried out a rescue operation, navigating the steep terrain to evacuate victims. The cause of the accident is yet to be determined, and further investigation is under way.

“Necessary legal action is being taken, and figures are being confirmed,” SP Sakshi Verma added.

More details are awaited as authorities continue to probe the matter.

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda today urged the Central Government to expedite the restoration of roads damaged during the ongoing monsoon season in Himachal.

Nadda, who met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi, sought assistance for the repair and restoration of damaged roads in Himachal.

Gadkari assured Nadda of full cooperation from his ministry for the repair of damaged roads in Himachal. Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan also accompanied Nadda.

The BJP national president said that Gadkari assured him that the repair of all damaged roads would be undertaken on a war footing.

Nadda said, “Himachal Pradesh is continuously receiving funds from the Central Government under the NDRF and the SDRF and more than Rs 5,000 crore has been released to the hill state.

The Centre has always helped Himachal and come to the rescue of the state in the time of need. In the aftermath of the 2023 monsoon disaster, which caused huge devastation in Kullu and Manali, the Centre provided Rs 3,146 crore to the state government.”

He said even now, the Central Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had released Rs 2,006 crore to Himachal under the NDRF, which increases the total assistance to Rs 5,152 crore.

Panic gripped Shimla town on Wednesday after several private schools received emails threatening to blow up the schools.

A number of prominent private schools received the bomb threat emails, saying explosives had been placed in the school buildings.

Taking prompt action, bomb disposal squads along with police teams reached the schools and conducted extensive searches. However, no such explosives were found and the classes resumed later.

Police officials said the situation is under control. They said the police are trying to ascertain the source of the emails.

Earlier, similar threat emails had been received by the Himachal Pradesh High Court, several sessions courts, deputy commissioners’ offices, office of the chief secretary and the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat.

A cloudburst struck the upper region of Khurik village in the Spiti valley of Lahaul and Spiti district today, triggering flashfloods that damaged four houses and killed a calf.

While no human casualties were reported, the incident caused panic and significant disruption in the area.

Eyewitnesses said that the cloudburst was triggered by a sudden 20-minute spell of torrential rain, leading to torrents of water, muck and debris hurtling through the village. Frightened villagers were seen screaming and rushing to alert each other in fear as the floodwaters gushed in. The ground floors of four houses were inundated with heavy muck and debris.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Kaza, Shikha Simtia, who also holds the charge of Additional Deputy Commissioner, told The Tribune that though no loss of human life had been reported, a calf was buried under the debris.

“Flashfloods caused by a cloudburst filled the ground floors of four houses in Khurik village with debris. The damage is being assessed and financial assistance will be provided to the affected families accordingly,” she added.

Lahaul and Spiti MLA Anuradha Rana said that flashfloods had been reported near Khurik and Rangrik villages in Lahaul and Spiti district. “The officials of all departments concerned under the leadership of the SDM have reached Khurik village.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) machinery has also been dispatched to clear debris from the villages.

The administration has been directed to immediately assess the damage caused and carry out relief and rescue operations,” she added, urging the public to remain calm. She assured people that the government stood firmly with them during this crisis.

Former MLA Ravi Thakur expressed concern over the situation and said that he had spoken to the SDM and requested her to provide immediate relief to the affected residents. He urged the state government to conduct a proper assessment of the damage caused and provide appropriate compensation to the victims.

Former minister Ram Lal Markanda called for a swift response from the government to provide relief and financial aid to those impacted by the flashfloods.

Efforts are ongoing to clear debris and restore normalcy in the area. The local authorities and the Border Roads Organisation are actvely engaged in relief operations.

Heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh has increased the water levels in the Bhakra and Pong dams, with both reservoirs crossing last year’s levels for the same day.

According to senior irrigation department officials, the water levels in the Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams are crucial for irrigation and power generation in the region.

“The water level in the Bhakra dam’s Gobind Sagar reservoir and the Pong dam reservoir stood at 1,603 feet and 1,334.35 feet, respectively, on Tuesday.

The water level at Bhakra reservoir increased by 3 feet, and at Pong dam by 4 feet on Monday. The levels in Bhakra dam and Pong dam were 1598.5 feet and 1,330.4 feet, respectively, on the same day last year,” said a senior power official.

At the Ranjit Sagar Dam, the water level reached 504.4 metres against 494.5 metres on the corresponding day last year.

Inflow levels recorded on Monday were 69,000 cusecs at Bhakra, and 96,000 cusecs at Pong, and 21,800 cusecs at Ranjit Sagar. The discharge figures were 25,680 cusecs (Bhakra), 13,650 cusecs (Pong) and 7,680 cusecs (Ranjit Sagar).

Power generation on Monday stood at 224 lakh units at Bhakra, 55.3 lakh units at Pong and 46 lakh units at Ranjit Sagar.

“With the paddy plantation season almost over, water and power requirement may dip in the days to come,” said VK Gupta, spokesperson of the All India Power Engineers Federation.

Meanwhile, coal stock levels at thermal power plants in the state sector remain comfortable. Lehra Mohabbat has 18 days of coal stock, Ropar has 24 days and Goindwal has 13 days. In the private sector, Rajpura thermal has 17 days of coal stock, while Talwandi Sabo thermal plant has 20 days.

This year, the maximum power demand till date was 17,233 MW, recorded on July 5, and power supply was 3,546 lakh units.

Heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours has triggered widespread landslides in Mandi district, leading to blockade of 244 roads, including the vital Chandigarh-Manali National Highway, and severely disrupting connectivity in the region.

The situation remains critical, with road, electricity and water services affected in multiple subdivisions of Mandi.

Initially, 302 roads were reported to be blocked due to landslides caused by torrential rain, but the district administration restored and reopened 58 roads by the evening. However, 244 roads still remain inaccessible, creating immense hardships for commuters, locals and tourists alike.

Seraj is the worst-hit subdivision in Mandi, where 117 roads are still blocked. Other affected subdivisions with roads blocked are Karsog (47), Thalaut (39), Padhar (21) and Dharampur (11), while several roads remain closed in other parts of the district as well.

The landslides have impacted several crucial routes, including the Chandigarh-Manali highway, Mandi-Janjehli road, Janjehli-Rampur, Karsog-Janjehli, Kamand-Prashar, Dharampur-Sandhol and Kotli-Dharampur roads.

The Chandigarh-Manali highway is blocked at key locations such as Dwada, Jhalogi and Kainchi Mod, bringing traffic movement to standstill. Long queues of stranded vehicles have been reported, causing distress to travellers and locals.

The authorities concerned have opened an alternative route from Mandi to Kullu via Kamand and Kataula, which is at present being used to divert traffic.

Meanwhile, rescue and road clearance operations are underway, though intermittent rain continues to hamper progress.

Besides, 312 power transformers and 49 water supply schemes have been affected.

Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan has appealed to the public to avoid unnecessary travel and remain indoors unless absolutely necessary.

“The water level in streams and rivers, including the Beas, has risen significantly. The dam authorities at Pandoh are releasing water regularly, so people must stay away from riverbanks and streams to avoid any untoward incidents,” he added.

A couple lost their lives after boulders, dislodged by a landslide, crashed into a house in Chamba district late Sunday night.

The victims, who were visiting the woman’s parental home, were asleep when the incident occurred. The force of the impact caused the house to collapse.

Authorities have rushed a rescue team to the site.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall across Chamba and other parts of Himachal Pradesh has severely affected normal life, with rivers and streams in the district flowing in spate.

The local administration has urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from landslide-prone areas.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated areas of 2 to 7 districts in the state from July 21 to 23.

142 roads remain closed statewide, including 91 in Mandi district. 40 water supply schemes and 26 power transformers have been damaged.

The Weather Department has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in many parts of the state from July 20 to July 23.

Light to moderate rainfall is likely at most places, while heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places low hills/plains, mid hills and adjoining high hills till July 23. This spell of precipitation will hit the peak on July 21.

On July 21, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Solan and Sirmaur districts.

The districts of Chamba, Kullu and Shimla are likely to get heavy rainfall. On July 22, Sirmaur and Solan are likely to get heavy rainfall.

Thunderstorm, accompanied with lightning, is likely in Chamba district on July 21, Kullu and Shimla on July 21 and 22, Bilaspur and Solan from July 21 to 23, Kangra and Sirmaur on July 22.

Thunderstorm is expected till July 23 in Una, Mandi and Hamirpur districts.

The department has warned of the possibility of landslides, water logging, damage to vulnerable structures and poor visibility. The department has advised people to follow traffic advisories and to stay away from water bodies.

As per the information from State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), 142 roads are closed for traffic in the state. As many as 40 water supply scheme and 26 distribution transformers continue to be disrupted across the state.

The overall loss so far in the monsoon has crossed Rs 1,200 crore, with the departments of PWD, Jal Shakti Vibhag, Power, Horticulture and Agriculture enduring the maximum damage.

A povidone-iodine solution, a widely used topical antiseptic for preventing and treating infections in wounds, besides surgery was among 59 drugs declared substandard in the monthly alert issued by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on Friday.

These drugs have been manufactured by 31 firms located in Baddi, Barotiwala, Nalagarh, Kala Amb, Paonta Sahib, Solan, etc.

Various batches of Telmisartan tablet, manufactured by a Baddi-based company and drug used for hypertension, failed quality parameters. The company has been found defaulting since months on manufacturing this drug.

Key issues like sterility assay, uniformity of weight, lack of assay content and presence of particulate matter have been found to be the key reasons of drug samples failing quality parameters. They comprise the grossly substandard drugs requiring immediate attention of the authorities.

Quality issues have also been flagged in several injections, including methylcobalamin that is used to treat deficiency of vitamin B12 in body, tranexamic acid injection used to control or prevent excessive or heavy bleeding during dental procedures in patients with hemophilia, calcium gluconate injection used for increasing calcium level in body, vitamin C injection IP and vitamin B12, folic acid and niacinamide injection.

The Mupirocin ointment used to treat secondarily infected traumatic skin lesions due to specific bacteria, iron sucrose injection used to treat iron deficiency have also found a place in the list.

At least six batches of Nalagarh-based firm’s calcium and vitamin D3 tablets failed quality parameters due to description issues. Altogether 14 drug samples of this firm figure in the list, thus putting a question mark on its quality control measures.

Other drugs figuring in the list include amoxicillin potassium clavulanate tablets, ampicillin and cloxacillin capsules, levocetrizine tablets, domperidone & paracetomal tablets, aceclofenac paracetamol and chlorzoxazone tablets, pabeprazole sodium and domperidone capsules and Ibuprofen IP 400.

They are used to treat common ailments, including gastroesophageal reflux, bacterial infection, fever, vitamin deficiency,migraine, blood pressure, heart ailments etc

Dr Sanjay Aggarwal, a Solan-based surgeon, said “Povidone-iodine solution, if found deficient in requisite assay and deviating from the safe pH level can have adverse impact. These are critical factors for the effectiveness, solubility and stability of a drug. If the pH is acidic it can burn the skin as it is supposed to have a neutral pH. Its long-term storage after its expiry date can alter its composition, thus making it toxic.”

“Similarly, the lack of assay can have far-reaching health impact on a patient as a medical practitioner will prescribe a higher dosage, which are bound to increase the side effects,”said Dr Aggarwal.

State Drugs Controller Manish Kapoor said all such drug samples of listed batches would be immediately withdrawn and the filed staff would probe the causes behind samples failing quality parameters.

The local Meteorological office has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated areas across four to nine out of 12 districts in Himachal Pradesh on Monday and Tuesday.

A yellow alert for heavy rainfall in isolated places has also been issued until Sunday.

Thunderstorms and lightning are also anticipated in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur on Monday; and in Kangra, Kullu, Mandi and Sirmaur on Tuesday, the MeT stated.

The monsoon activity has been weak over the last 24 hours, resulting in light rainfall in a few areas of the state.

Hamirpur recorded 13.5 mm of rain since Friday night, followed by Karsog with 8.1 mm, Kasauli at 5 mm, Jubbarhatti at 4.8 mm, Kothi at 4 mm, Slapper at 3.9 mm, Shimla at 3.6 mm, Ghaghas at 3.4 mm, and Kufri at 3 mm.

As of Saturday evening, a total of 141 roads remain closed in the state. Additionally, 58 water supply schemes and 28 power distribution transformers have been affected, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC).

The maximum number of road closures occurred in disaster-hit Mandi (94) and Kullu (33).

According to the SEOC, since the onset of the monsoon on June 20 till July 19, approximately 119 people have lost their lives — 70 due to rain-related incidents and 49 in road accidents. Around 225 individuals have been injured and 34 are missing.

Himachal Pradesh has experienced 34 flash floods, 22 cloudbursts and 21 landslides this monsoon season, resulting in losses of approximately Rs 1,234 crore, the department said.