Monsoon set to withdraw from Himachal early october, Government Faces ₹1,360 Cr losses

The monsoon is expected to withdraw from Himachal Pradesh in the first week of October. According to the Meteorological Center in Shimla, the monsoon could retreat within the next three days. While the monsoon withdrew on October 6 last year, this year it is likely to exit by October 2, with clear skies anticipated until October 6. Meteorologists have reported that the southwest monsoon has already begun retreating from areas in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, and will soon withdraw from Himachal Pradesh. As a result of the clear weather, the state has experienced a slight rise in temperatures. Notably, record-breaking heat was reported in many parts of the state during the third week of September.

Although the monsoon period was extended this year, the rainfall remained within normal levels. Despite this, the Himachal Pradesh government has suffered losses amounting to ₹1,360 crore. The Public Works Department (PWD) was the hardest hit, with damages totaling ₹633 crore, while the Jal Shakti Department incurred losses of ₹540 crore. The monsoon season witnessed various incidents leading to 342 deaths, with 28 people still missing. Additionally, 81 permanent structures were damaged, 122 permanent houses partially damaged, and 162 temporary houses were completely destroyed. Another 412 temporary houses sustained partial damage, and 535 people were injured in different incidents across the state.