(Image source from: PTI)
Residents of Thunag in Himachal Pradesh had placed their trust in the Himachal Cooperative Bank to safeguard their life savings, believing that their funds were secure. However, the recent devastating flash floods have left the bank in ruins. The upper floor of the two-story bank has been completely destroyed, and the full extent of the loss – estimated to be in crores of rupees, including valuable jewellery – remains unclear. Himachal Pradesh has seen a total of 23 flash floods, 19 cloud burst incidents, and 16 landslides as of July 6, drastically altering the state's landscape. The death toll has risen to 78 since the start of the monsoon on June 20, with 50 fatalities attributed to rain-related incidents and 28 in road accidents, as reported by the State Disaster Management Authority.
The casualties from various monsoon-related disasters in Himachal Pradesh now stand at 78 as of July 6, with 14 deaths due to flash floods, eight from drowning, and eight from electrocution and accidental falls, along with smaller numbers from landslides, lightning strikes, and snake bites. Additionally, 37 individuals are still missing, and 115 have been injured, with significant infrastructural damage across the state. The Himachal Cooperative Bank in the severely impacted Mandi district has suffered substantial damage, with the first floor submerged in water and debris. Local trader Hari Mohan expressed that this bank was the sole financial institution serving a town of eight thousand residents. Despite handling numerous transactions daily, the bank's cash, documents, and lockers have now been reduced to rubble.
Some locals are standing guard at the bank to prevent any potential robberies. There has been a rise in incidents of theft of valuables that were swept away by floods. In the midst of these challenges, a total of 243 roads, including two national highways, are currently closed. Additionally, 278 electricity transfers are halted, and 261 water projects are not operational. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted severe weather conditions such as heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and squalls for today, with heavy rain expected on July 8 and 9. A red alert has been issued for three districts - Sirmaur, Kangra, and Mandi, while seven districts - Shimla, Solan, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Una, Kullu, and Chamba - are on orange alert. The Geological Survey of India has issued a landslide warning for four districts in Uttarakhand - Tehri, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli, with potential landslides expected on July 7 and 8 in various subdivisions.
In response to these warnings, the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) has instructed all district magistrates, disaster management authorities, police, and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to stay vigilant. All officers and departmental nodal officers designated by the Disaster Management Incident Response System (IRS) are on high alert, as well as Revenue Sub Inspectors, Gram Vikas Adhikari, and Gram Panchayat Officers who are asked to remain stationed in their respective areas. Officials are advised to keep their equipment and wireless sets on high alert and to keep their phones on at all times for the next 48 hours. Tourist movement in high Himalayan regions is to be restricted during the warning period, and both vehicular and pedestrian movement must be halted during heavy rainfall. Instructions have been given to ensure the strategic deployment of essential equipment, including JCB and Pokland machines, sufficient human resources, and other necessary gear to effectively manage roads and landslide-prone areas
