Shimla: Putting heavy rain damage losses so far at Rs 334 crore, chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal let the Vidhan Sabha know that a total of 30 human lives had been lost, 93 livestock had perished and 1903 houses had suffered damage.
Making a suo motto statement in the house, the chief minister said besides the human toll of 30 dead, another 4 persons were missing.
The rains which were normal in June, deficient in July had been vigorously active in August, he said.
Crop losses were put at Rs 101 crore and damage to private and government property at Rs 233 crore.
Cloud burst, a phenomenon where excessive rains falls in a small catchment leading to devastation downstream, had killed 19 people, 8 of which in Solang Valley of Kullu-Manali, 7 in Sirmour district and another 4 in Mandi district.
Heavy rains had also claimed 5 lives in Solan and two each life in Shimla, Kangra, Chamba districts.
Loss of crops and property was maximum in Kullu, where it has been put at Rs 67 Cr, followed by Mandi Rs 65 Cr, Kangra Rs 64 Cr, Shimla Rs 39 Cr, Hamirpur Rs 25 Cr, Solan Rs 18 Cr, Una Rs 16 Cr, Lahaul-Spiti Rs 8 Cr and Rs 2 crore each in Bilaspur and Chamba districts.
The state government has released Rs 75.41 crore of its funds for relief purposes.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads the team of media professionals at Hill Post.
In a career spanning over two decades through all formats of journalism in Electronic, Print and Online Media, he brings with him enough experience to steer this platform. He lives in Shimla.
