Heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides have devastated Himachal Pradesh, cutting off villages, sweeping away roads, and leaving thousands homeless. Experts and the Supreme Court have raised alarms over climate change and unchecked tourism, saying the state is heading towards an ecological disaster.

Environment activist Dr Manu Singh told Times Now that “cancerous tourism” and reckless construction are eroding the ecological balance in the Himalayas. He warned that 80% of the calamities in the region are linked to climate change, while the rest are caused by natural variability of the fragile mountain system.

“If these trends continue,” he cautioned, “what the Supreme Court said for Himachal Pradesh, it will be wiped off the map within a decade or two.”

The apex court also expressed concern, noting that climate change has had a “visible and alarming impact” on Himachal Pradesh. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan remarked, “Revenue cannot be earned at the cost of environment and ecology.”

Why floods are getting worse

Dr Singh explained that rising global temperatures are making the air warmer and moisture-heavy, causing extreme rainfall. He highlighted that cumulonimbus clouds, which bring intense downpours, have increased by 700%.

When these dense clouds hit the Himalayas, they trigger cloudbursts, releasing over 100 mm of rain in less than an hour, often leading to floods and landslides. Ill-planned roads, resorts, and hotels built close to rivers have worsened the destruction.

“It is human stupidity to be constructing resorts and hotels bang near the river banks,” Dr Singh said, pointing to visuals of the Beas River swallowing buildings.

Himachal’s losses: Lives and infrastructure

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC):

  • Between June 20 and August 26, at least 158 people have died in rain-related incidents, while 38 remain missing.

  • The state has faced 90 flash floods, 42 cloudbursts, and 85 major landslides this season.

  • Losses are estimated at ₹2,623 crore.

  • As of now, 536 roads are blocked across 11 districts, including 217 in Mandi and 167 in Kullu.

  • 1,184 power transformers and 503 water supply schemes have been damaged.

In Kangra district, flash floods in the Ravi River washed away several government buildings in Bada Bangal village, which sits at 7,800 feet. The remote settlement, already cut off for months during winter, has now lost all access due to washed-out bridges.

Rapid urbanisation, large-scale infrastructure projects, and violations of construction guidelines have destabilised slopes across the region. Experts warn that without urgent checks on tourism and stricter planning, Himachal Pradesh may face even deadlier disasters in the coming years.