Himachal records highest August rainfall in 50 Years, Rs 3056 crore property damage

September 1, 2025

Shimla, Sep 1: This year’s August rainfall in Himachal Pradesh has broken all records of the last 50 years. In August, the rainfall was 72 per cent more than normal. Earlier, the record rainfall in August 2019 was 23 per cent more than normal. The second-highest recorded rainfall was 18 per cent more than normal in August 2011.

According to the Meteorological Department, the average normal rainfall in the state is 256.8 mm between August 1 and August 31, but this time, 440.8 mm of rain fell. Till date, there has never been so much rain in August.

Kullu district has received 162 per cent more rain than normal, that is, 62 per cent more than double. Kullu receives a normal rainfall of 180.2 mm in August; this time, 472.9 mm of rain has fallen.

After Kullu, Shimla received 126% more rain than normal. The normal rainfall in Shimla during this period is 196.4 mm, but this time it received 444.4 mm of rain. Una district received 121% more rain than normal, Solan received 118% and Chamba received 104% more rain.

More than double the rain in 5 districts

There are 5 districts in the state where more than double the rainfall was recorded. This heavy rainfall is the main reason for the devastation. Monsoon season i.e. from 1st June to 31st August, has also witnessed 35 per cent more rainfall than normal. The average normal rainfall in the state during this period is 613.8 mm, but this time 826.8 mm of rain has been recorded.

Property worth Rs 3056 crore destroyed, 844 houses razed to the ground

Due to this, government and private property worth Rs 3056 crore has been destroyed in the state. 320 people died in the monsoon season, 844 houses were completely razed to the ground, 3254 houses were partially damaged, 472 shops and 3710 houses were destroyed.

45 cloudbursts caused devastation

This season, 95 major incidents of landslides, 91 floods and 45 cloudbursts have caused massive loss of life and property in the state. This has affected not only Himachal but also the neighbouring state of Punjab. Many areas of Punjab were submerged and suffered heavy losses.

Himachal CM Sukhvinder Sukhu said that the loss of life has been less in this monsoon season. But the damage to property has been more than the disaster of the year 2023.