Shimla: At least 26 people died due to heavy rains and cloudbursts in Himachal Pradesh during the current monsoon which hit the state on July 5, Revenue Minister Gulab Singh informed the state Assembly on Thursday.
"Heavy rains and cloudbursts in various parts of the state claimed 26 lives during this monsoon," he told the house in a written reply.
He said that 1,892 houses were damaged after the onset of monsoon and the loss to public and private property had been assessed at Rs 896.02 crore.
The loss to horticulture and agriculture crops was assessed at Rs 300 crore while infrastructure like roads and bridges suffered loss to the tune of Rs 280 crore.
"The government has released Rs 84.40 crore from the calamity relief fund, while additional funds to the tune of Rs 50 crore would be released soon," he added.
Meanwhile, the Director of local MeT office, Manmohan Singh said that the rains were 19 per cent deficit in the state till August 29 and the state received 533 mm of rain against the normal average rainfall of 655 mm till August 29.
All districts except Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur and Chamba received normal rains.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, August 30, 2012, 17:11