Himachal Pradesh's monsoon season has turned deadly and costly, with the state's Revenue Department reporting through its State Emergency Operation Centre that 270 people have died and 492 have been injured as of 5 September 2026. Of these fatalities, 110 came directly from disaster-related incidents while the remaining 160 occurred in road accidents.
Damage bill crosses Rs 1,242 crore
According to the government's assessment, monsoon rains have caused combined damage worth Rs 1,24,236.93 lakh, translating to roughly Rs 1,242.37 crore, to public and private assets. The Public Works Department has borne the brunt of this, absorbing losses of around Rs 951.23 crore, a sign of how badly roads and bridges have suffered. The Jal Shakti Department's water infrastructure projects took a further hit of about Rs 258.61 crore, disrupting drinking water supply and irrigation schemes in several areas.
What killed 110 people in disaster-linked incidents
Within the 110 disaster deaths, falling trees and rocks proved the single biggest killer, accounting for 38 lives. Landslides claimed 18 lives, while 13 people drowned. Snakebites killed 11 people and electrocution took another 10 lives. Additional deaths were recorded in flash floods, fires and other incidents, underlining how varied the dangers become in hilly terrain once the rains set in.
Road accidents added another 160 deaths
Slick, hazardous roads during the rainy months also proved fatal, with 160 people killed in road accidents across the state. District data shows Shimla and Sirmaur recording the highest toll at 20 deaths each, followed by Chamba and Kangra with 18 each, and Solan and Kullu with 16 each.
Livestock and private property also took a hit
Beyond the human toll, the monsoon has killed 467 animals and birds, while homes, shops, cattle sheds and other private properties have suffered extensive damage. Roads, power supply, drinking water systems and government infrastructure across the state continue to bear the strain of the season, leaving authorities with a mounting challenge on relief and reconstruction work.
