Himachal Pradesh has been officially declared a disaster-affected state following unprecedented monsoon devastation across multiple districts. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu made the announcement in the state assembly on Monday, detailing the extensive damage caused by cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides.
The CM informed the house that since the monsoon’s reactivation on August 21, various parts of the state have witnessed multiple incidents of excessive rainfall, cloudbursts, and landslides continuing through September 1, 2025. The most severely affected districts include Chamba, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Mandi, Shimla, Kangra, and Hamirpur.
Preliminary damage assessment for this year’s monsoon season through August 31 has been estimated at ₹3,056 crore. The maximum damage has occurred to roads, bridges, water supply systems, and electricity infrastructure across the affected regions.
CM Sukhu stated that the government has issued directions under the Disaster Management Act to district, state, and central government departments for conducting relief and rescue operations on a war footing and rebuilding basic infrastructure. Since the beginning of this year’s monsoon, several districts experienced cloudbursts, sudden floods, and landslides, prompting immediate relief and rescue operations along with restoration of roads, drinking water schemes, and electricity supply.
The state assembly unanimously passed a resolution during its ninth day of the monsoon session demanding that the devastation caused by cloudbursts, heavy rainfall, and landslides be declared a national disaster. The resolution was passed amid scenes of commotion in the house, reflecting the urgency and gravity of the situation facing the hill state.
The declaration comes as Himachal Pradesh continues to battle the aftermath of one of its worst monsoon seasons in recent memory, with infrastructure damage and human casualties mounting across the mountainous terrain.
