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Mega earthquake of 8 magnitude in Himachal to put Govt’s preparedness to test
Shimla: An earthquake measuring 8 in magnitude on Richter Scale will occur at midnight on intervening nights of February 7 and 8, 2017 in Himachal Pradesh. The epicentre will be between Sundernagar and Mandi. The neighbouring States like Punjab will be worst hit after Himachal.
This is what the disaster management agencies will presume before conducting the fourth Mega Mock Earthquake exercise on February 8, 2018, in which all the 12 districts will participate, informed the Principal Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, Onkar Chand Sharma during the Orientation and Coordination Conference and Sensitization programme on Incident Response System (IRS)
As reiterated several times, an organization of mock drills are required because Himachal is highly vulnerable to the earthquake as it comes under highly sensitive seismic zones IV and V.
Predicted Mega Himalayan Quake
During past decades, several national and international research institutes, geologists, and seismologists had been repeatedly warning about massive tectonic movement in seismically active 600 km long Himalayan belt. Entire Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will be worst hit as they fall in seismic zone IV and VI. No expert is able to predict any date, but they have shown confirmation in their predictions based on various historical and contemporary data.
Mock exercises are conducted to help enhance strategies, level of preparedness and risk resilience of both the response teams as well as the general public.
Objectives of the Mega Mock Drill
The objectives of these mock drills remain on generating awareness amongst all stakeholders, evaluate response mechanism and to find out strength and gaps in preparedness and mitigation. Other than that, the capacity building of local people and effective coordination between various agencies is also a major objective of the mock drill.
Earlier such mock exercise was done in November 2016 in which seven most vulnerable districts i.e. Shimla, Kangra, Mandi, Chamba, Solan, Kinnaur and Kullu participated but this time all districts would be covered.
Each district will conduct an exercise at minimum five places.
As effective areas for carrying out rescue, relief and mitigation work in each district various places such as residential, non-residential, hospitals, educational institutes and shopping complexes will be taken, informed the Special Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management, D.C. Rana.
Experts from National Disaster Management Authority will observe the entire exercise.
Table Top Exercise will take place on February 07, 2018 at 11 AM onwards, and Deputy Commissioners of all districts will attend the exercise through Video Conference.
The State level Officers will be present at State Secretariat.
Earthquake scenario will be laid down in accordance with the studies of IIT Mumbai, IIT Madras and NDMA.
There is a visible need of involvement of the community as local people are the first responders in such circumstances as it takes time to the district and State authorities including National level teams to reach the incident place.
The government has suggested that the Disaster Management training will be incorporated into every training schedule of HIPA and other departmental training.
State Disaster Response Force and NDMA will provide all necessary assistance and specialized training for it. Himachal is a Hilly State and landslides are frequent and NDMA has assigned IIT Mandi to undertake a pilot project for it, it was informed in the meeting.
Senior Specialist NDMA, Major Gen (Retd), Dr. V.K. Naik, gave a detail presentation on Sensitization Programme on Incident Response System (IRS).
If the Member NDMA, Lt Gen (Retd), N.C. Marwah to be believed, Himachal has done remarkable work in the field of Disaster Management and is listed one of the best State in the Country in preparedness.
The government claimed that the state has incorporated IRS in State Disaster Management Plan, which is very comprehensive and allied to National Disaster Management Plan.
Senior officers of Army, NDRF, ITBP, SSB, Police, Deputy Commissioners, and Head of line departments were present in the meeting.
Solan—In a shocking incident on Monday, an 18-year-old youth, Pravesh, survived a vicious leopard attack in Sarli village of Arki subdivision. The teenager reportedly fought the leopard for nearly 12 minutes before breaking its jaw, killing the animal on the spot.
Quick Thinking Saved His Life
Pravesh told the media that he was walking from the fields to a nearby shop in the morning to fetch milk when the leopard, hidden in the crops, lunged at him. Noticing the leopard’s tail, he attempted to run but fell after a short distance. During the attack, he covered his neck with his hands to protect himself from fatal bites.
The teenager continued to struggle with the leopard, repeatedly attempting to put distance between himself and the predator. In a desperate move, he grabbed the leopard by its mouth, twisted its jaw, and broke it, killing the animal instantly. Pravesh sustained multiple injuries, including deep claw marks, and is currently receiving treatment at Arki Hospital. Police and forest department teams have launched an investigation into the incident.
Serious Allegations of HP Forest Department’s Negligence
One of Pravesh’s relatives accused the forest department of negligence, noting that similar attacks had occurred in the area previously.
Earlier, a leopard had attempted to attack a scooter rider, who managed to escape. The family said they had informed the forest department on March 6 about potential danger, but no concrete action was taken. Villagers waited for three hours for a forest team to arrive, but none came. When the Block Officer eventually visited, he reportedly told villagers to ensure their own safety. Requests for cages to capture the leopard were also denied, with officials asking for written complaints instead.
SHIMLA | 7 August 2025 –The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall across Himachal Pradesh over the next two weeks, with isolated heavy to very heavy showers likely over the low hills, plains, and adjoining mid-hill regions. While the ongoing monsoon remains vital for agriculture, it also brings an elevated risk of localized flooding and landslides.
Week of August 8–14
Maximum temperatures will range from 22°C to 34°C, depending on elevation—22°C to 28°C in high hills, 26°C to 30°C in mid-hills, and up to 34°C in lower regions. Minimum temperatures are expected to remain near normal, between 12°C and 24°C. Cooler conditions may persist in districts like Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti.
Week of August 15–21
Similar rainfall patterns are expected to continue, with scattered heavy rain episodes. Temperature trends will remain stable, though slightly below-normal maximum temperatures are likely in parts of Lahaul-Spiti, Mandi, Kangra, and Kullu districts.
Outlook for Late August
Rainfall is expected to remain broadly normal, with region-specific variations. Districts such as Kinnaur, Shimla, and Sirmaur may see below-normal precipitation, while Una, Kangra, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, and Solan are likely to receive above-average rainfall. Both maximum and minimum temperatures are forecast to stay close to seasonal norms.
Officials at the Meteorological Centre in Shimla have urged residents and local authorities to remain alert for sudden heavy downpours, which could disrupt road connectivity and trigger landslides—especially along vulnerable hillside routes. Past monsoon episodes have blocked key highways, including routes between Mandi and Kullu and near Banjar, underscoring the ongoing challenges in the region.
This advisory comes as Himachal Pradesh continues to face the dual pressures of sustaining its agriculture-dependent economy while managing the life and infrastructure risks posed by an active monsoon. Continued vigilance and preparedness remain crucial.
SHIMLA | 7 August 2025 –Himachal Pradesh continues to deal with the impacts of the 2025 monsoon season, reporting extensive property damage, loss of lives, and widespread disruptions across the state. According to the official reports from the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), the Department of Revenue, and the India Meteorological Department, from June 20 to August 6, 2025, heavy monsoon rains caused significant damage across multiple districts:
- Casualties: 199 deaths due to landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, drowning, lightning, electrocution, and accidents; 304 injuries reported.
- Property Loss: Extensive damage to houses (both pucca and kaccha), shops, factories, labor sheds, animal shelters, and substantial crop losses in agriculture and horticulture.
- Public Infrastructure: Over ₹1,900 crore in damages to roads (including PWD), power supply, health, education, fisheries, rural and urban development, and animal husbandry.
Most affected districts include Mandi, Kangra, and Hamirpur, with severe crop and infrastructure losses.
Additionally, 91 deaths occurred due to monsoon-related road accidents.
Public Utilities and Infrastructure Disruptions
The SEOC report dated August 7, 2025, highlights ongoing disruptions:
- Roads Blocked: About 493 major roads and 3 national highways (NH-305, NH-21, NH-05) remain blocked by landslides and floods.
- Power Supply: Disruption of 1,120 distribution transformers (DTRs).
- Water Supply: 245 water schemes affected, threatening access to potable water for communities.
Key blockages include NH-21 between Mandi and Kullu and NH-305 near Banjar and Jhed.
Weather Forecast and Warnings
The India Meteorological Department’s forecast valid from August 7, 2025, includes:
- Isolated heavy rainfall expected throughout the week.
- Thunderstorms and lightning predicted in isolated areas.
- Minimum temperatures near normal or slightly below.
- Maximum temperatures showing a moderate increase.
The public is urged to remain vigilant due to the risks of further landslides and flash floods.
Himachal Pradesh remains vulnerable as the monsoon season continues, with thousands affected by damage, displacement, and disruption of essential services. Authorities are continuing with rescue and recovery operations and are urging residents to stay alert to the ongoing adverse weather. This situation highlights the pressing need for enhanced infrastructure and disaster management strategies to mitigate monsoon-related risks.
Himachal’s LPG Supply Hit Amid Global Tensions, Likely to Affect Hospitality Industry
Himachal Teen Survives 12-Minute Leopard Attack, Kills Predator in Self-Defense
Weather Forecast for Himachal Pradesh For the Next Two Weeks
Monsoon 2025: Himachal Pradesh Suffers 199 Casualties, Over ₹1,905.50 Cr in Damages
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