In a tragic turn of events, Himachal Pradesh has recently experienced a monsoon season catastrophe without precedent. Continuous rainfall pummeled the state, causing flash flooding, mudslides, and widespread destruction. The disaster caused substantial loss of life and property.

During the months of July and August, the persistent rainfall caused 168 landslides and 72 flash flooding across the state, severely impacting districts such as Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan, and Chamba. The loss of human life has been appalling, with 481 people killed, 40 people still missing, and 505 people injured.

As, many as 21,129 animals perished, and 6,030 cow sheds were obliterated. There has been widespread destruction of residential and public structures, with 1,186 pucca houses, 1,745 kutcha houses, and 419 commercial buildings in the basement affected. An additional 12,264 homes sustained partial damage, displacing a substantial portion of the population.

The environmental group Himalayan Niti Abhiyaan, led by Kulbushan Upmanyu and based in Chamba, submitted to governor Shiv Pratap Shukla an eight-page report containing suggestions and recommendations to reduce future natural disaster-related losses.

The training of micro-level scientists for the precise delineation of flood-prone areas and the implementation of stringent regulations for infrastructure development within these zones is one of the most important recommendations. In addition to emphasizing the significance of safe disposal of debris from construction projects in progress, the report calls for increased monitoring and scientific investigation of debris discovered in villages.

In addition, the report emphasizes the need to reevaluate land use policies and prioritize geological sensitivity when choosing construction sites. Upmanyu stated that input from geologists should be considered in large infrastructure projects, roads, and four-lane highways in order to reduce the risk of landslides and other geological hazards.

The experts believe that the Beas Valley floods were not solely caused by excessive rainfall; the floating load, including debris from road and tunnel construction, which blocked riverbanks and mid-water played a significant role. This detritus uprooted trees and redirected the river towards urban areas and four-lane highways, thereby exacerbating the catastrophe.

Commercial construction projects have emerged as a major cause of deforestation, imperiling biodiversity and aggravating the ongoing climate crisis. These initiatives have accelerated the rate of deforestation by increasing the demand for water resources. Destruction threats, such as landslides and forest fires, loom simultaneously over both the environment and human settlements.

The report urges a departure from the current trajectory of infrastructure development and commercial initiatives. Instead, it calls for the revival of mixed forestry, which not only protects against natural disasters but also provides food, fuel, medicine, and timber to local communities.

Unchecked urbanization is an additional existential threat, as unplanned growth without adequate drainage infrastructure creates the conditions for landslides and building collapses. The controversial “2041 Shimla Development Plan” is set to double Shimla’s population by 2041, despite being canceled by the NGT in 2018. The report suggests that political pressures played a role in its construction and urges its withdrawal.

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Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the report emphasizes the significance of involving local civil society, non-governmental organizations, and self-governing institutions in decision-making processes. The report suggests that their perspectives, based on in-depth knowledge of their regions, should be fundamental in shaping policies and implementation strategies.

Tourism, a significant contributor to the region’s gross domestic product, has also been affected by the crisis. Infrastructure failures and overpopulation have afflicted the industry. Unrestrained development, excessive automobile traffic, and environmental mismanagement have precipitated a crisis. The report urges a transition to “responsible tourism,” emphasizing the importance of local empowerment and regulation to limit real estate speculation in the name of tourism.

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Police superintendent of Mandi, Soumya Sambasivan, stated that a provisional link road was constructed after recent landslides damaged the main highway. Between Pandoh and 9 Miles, the police stopped vehicles to ensure the welfare of commuters. The traffic was rerouted via the road between Kamand and Bajaura.

She stated that the reopening of the alternative route to the highway will depend on the weather.

Arindam Chaudhary, deputy commissioner of Mandi, has ordered that the Mandi-Kullu highway be closed to traffic for three hours daily to facilitate maintenance. “The Mandi-Kullu highway is severely devastated between 6 and 9 miles as a result of the cloudburst and landslip that occurred in the area during the monsoon. This highway segment will be closed daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for maintenance, he said.

More than 280 roads, including three national arteries, were blocked in the state, as reported by the State Emergency Operation Centre of the Disaster Management Authority.

There were a maximum of 162 blocked roads in Mandi, 31 in Shimla, and 25 in Kullu.

Cracks in houses in Solan’s Barotiwala

In the Barotiwala region of the Solan district, 17 families were rendered destitute when their homes in Majri village developed cracks. In addition, cracks have developed in the Katal Pakoti village homes. The administration has relocated the villagers to secure locations while monitoring the situation.

In the state over the next three days, the meteorological department forecasts heavy to extremely heavy rain.

On Tuesday, a yellow alert was issued for the entire state, while an orange alert was issued for Wednesday and Thursday, according to Surender Paul, director of the Shimla MeT centre.

Heavy precipitation may cause mudslides and sudden floods, resulting in the obstruction of roads and disruption of vital services. People are advised to avoid areas prone to landslides and unnecessary travel.

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Mounting losses this monsoon

This monsoon, the state has sustained losses totaling 8,099.46 crore, with the state public works department bearing a loss of 2,712 crore.

The Jal Shakti department estimated its loss to be 1,860.52 crore rupees, while the state electricity commission estimated its loss to be 1,707 crore rupees. The mortality toll reached 346, while 2,216 homes were destroyed and 9,819 were damaged.

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For the convenience of candidates, the Himachal government has chosen to shift the existing recruitment process from the commission until further arrangements are made.

“Employees of the Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission have been shifted to the excess pool, and they will have the option to join new departments,” Sukhu added.

“As a result of the findings of the departmental investigation and the vigilance bureau investigation, which revealed irregularities and established that papers were leaked and sold to select individuals for the past three years, the state government has decided to dissolve the staff selection body immediately,” he added.

On December 26, Sukhu suspended the commission’s operations and ordered an investigation.

The commission’s secretary, Jitender Kumar, and his deputy, Sanjeev Kumar, were dismissed of their roles, and all upcoming examinations were suspended, with the exception of the announcement of pending results.

The extra deputy commissioner of Hamirpur was designated as the commission’s officer on special duty.

“In order to ensure transparency in the recruitment process, the state government is examining the national model of recruitment, and a decision will be taken accordingly,” stated the chief minister.

“Investigations have found that the entire organisation was complicit in the fraud. If somebody passed the examinations via unfair means and was afterwards hired, they will be investigated and punished accordingly. Due to ongoing investigations, we cannot provide anything at this time. In two months, we have exposed those who deceived the state’s youth, stated Sukhu.

The JOA (IT) test slated for December 25 was cancelled after a paper leak was discovered on December 23, when a senior assistant of the commission, Uma Azad, was apprehended with a solved question paper and 2.5 lakh.

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Uma Azad, her sons Nikhil Azad and Nitin Azad, tout Sanjeev and his brother Shashi Pal, Neeraj, Ajay Sharma, and Tanu Sharma have been detained thus far in connection with the crime. The complaint against them was filed with the court of the district and session judge in Hamirpur.

The forensic experts discovered question papers, financial transactions, audio recordings, and chats on the mobile phones, laptops, hard drives, and personal devices of the individuals under investigation, indicating that papers had also been leaked in the past.

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