Lessons that Himachal must not ignore after the rain fury

THE 2025 rains have already left behind a trail of death and destruction in Himachal Pradesh. At least 63 lives have been lost, dozens are still missing and the state has suffered damages worth Rs 400 crore. In Mandi district, torrential rains, cloudbursts and flashfloods have washed away homes, roads and orchards. In just one week, critical infrastructure crumbled: the Manali-Leh highway was blocked for over 15 hours, the historic Kangra Valley Railway was suspended again due to landslides and in Shimla’s Dhalli area, a collapsing retaining wall endangered five buildings. They reflect a long-brewing crisis rooted in unscientific development, poor disaster planning and a neglect of ecological wisdom.

At the heart of this devastation lies not just climate change, but also a reckless disregard for the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. In the name of development, roads have been widened by vertically slitting mountains rather than adopting terracing, traditional construction methods have been cast aside for unsuitable concrete and debris management has been dismal. The Atal Tunnel may be an engineering marvel, but the reversion to the old Rohtang Pass road after its blockage proves that emergency planning has not kept pace with infra expansion. The disruption of the Kangra Valley Railway highlights official apathy towards heritage infrastructure that still serves as the lifeline for remote areas. The situation near Shimla’s Dhalli, where poor construction and negligence endangered buildings and lives, underscores the cost of unscientific development.

The path forward must be one of radical course correction. Geological studies and environmental clearances must be rigorous. Retrofitting structures, enforcing building codes, strengthening early warning systems and investing in local, sustainable construction methods are imperative. Nature is giving Himachal repeated warnings. The state cannot afford another season of déjà vu and denial.

Editorials