Severe Landslides and Heavy Rainfall in Jammu and Himachal Pradesh Result in Fatalities
Tragic Impact of Weather Conditions
On Monday, landslides and torrential rains wreaked havoc in parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, leading to the deaths of four individuals, including a five-year-old child. In the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, a significant landslide occurred on the old route to the Vaishno Devi temple, resulting in the death of a 70-year-old pilgrim and injuring nine others. Previously, flash floods in Himachal Pradesh had claimed numerous lives, while Andhra Pradesh also faced fatalities due to continuous rainfall.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has released statistics in the Lok Sabha regarding deaths during the monsoon season. From April 1 to July 16 this year, heavy rainfall has been linked to a total of 1,297 fatalities across the country, with Andhra Pradesh recording the highest number at 258 deaths, followed by Himachal Pradesh with 171, Madhya Pradesh with 148, and Bihar with 101 deaths.
Damage Assessment and Government Response
During this period, 51,699 livestock were lost, 92,663 homes were damaged, and 154,394.27 hectares of agricultural land were affected. In response to inquiries from BJP MPs Sudhir Gupta and Manish Jaiswal, as well as Shiv Sena MPs Dhairyashil Sambhajirao Mane and Ravindra Vasantrao Chavan Patil, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai announced the formation of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) for Himachal Pradesh. This team will assess the damage caused by sudden floods, cloudbursts, and landslides without waiting for a memorandum.
Members of Parliament raised concerns about the loss of life and property due to heavy rainfall and inquired whether a central team had been dispatched to the affected areas. In a written response, it was noted that extremely favorable synoptic systems and monsoon winds had led to heavy rainfall in central and western India, resulting in premature flooding events. The ministry clarified that it does not maintain centralized records of damage statistics.
Further Details on Agricultural Losses
The ministry reported that in Himachal Pradesh, 23,818 livestock and 1,528 homes were affected, while Madhya Pradesh saw the loss of 325 livestock and damage to 986 homes. Assam experienced the most significant agricultural impact, with 29,714.89 hectares of crops affected. Furthermore, the central government has released ₹9,578.4 crore to 22 states under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to assist those impacted during the current financial year (up to July 15, 2025).
The government emphasized that financial assistance under SDRF/NDRF is provided as relief in the wake of natural disasters, rather than as compensation for losses or claims. According to the national disaster management policy, the primary responsibility for disaster management lies with the respective state governments. However, financial assistance for notified disasters is provided according to established procedures under SDRF/NDRF.
Awaiting Official Confirmation
Note: This report has been published based on news currently airing on Indian media channels, pending official confirmation.