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Himachal: One-Month-Old Among 67 Fatalities Reported in Last 24-Hours, Fatality Rate Keeps Mounting But Testing Remains Low
Shimla – In the last 24-hours, 67 people lost their lives in Himachal Pradesh, taking the total death toll to 2,185. While, 3,044 new cases of infection were reported on Friday, as the total number of Covid-19 cases reached 1,53,717, according to data released by the state government. Among the Himalayan states, Himachal Pradesh has second highest fatality ratio of 28 per lakh. Also, the Covid-19 fatality rate of Himachal Pradesh had surpassed the national average of 1.1% to reach 1.5% on May 6, 2021. The fatality rate of the hill state still remains near 1.4%
The daily number of cases has been fluctuating but the fatality rate is only mounting. Despite directions passed in statements to increase testing rate and contact tracing, the daily sampling remains low. On Friday, 11,388 people across Himachal were sampled for the infection, out of which 2,430 Covid test results remain pending.
On Friday, Kangra district reported 724 cases and 31 fatalities, the highest in the state, in the last 24 hours. Hamirpur district reported ten deaths.
One of the patients who succumbed to severe symptoms of coronavirus was a one-month-old infant, Priyanshi, from Shimla’s Theog region. Priyanshi tested positive for coronavirus on May 7 and succumbed to the infection on Thursday. She was admitted to the pediatric department of Shimla’s Indira Gandhi Medical College. Her cause of death was cited to be “Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) with COVID 19 Pneumonia with late-onset neonatal sepsis.”
The oldest patient to succumb to infection was a 103-year-old woman from the Mandi district. 58 out of 67 patients who died of coronavirus had no comorbidities.
View the District-wise Details of all COVID-19 Cases for May 14, 2021 (Till 7 pm) Below:
Source: HP NHM
A picture doing the rounds on social media suggested how the pandemic has taken devastating form in rural Himachal. The picture emerged from a village in the Kangra district, where a man was seen carrying the dead body of his mother. Villagers and relatives of the man refused to come ahead and lend a shoulder as the woman had died of Covid-19. While the son carried the body to the cremation ground. The man’s wife followed him with their toddler in one hand and cremation material in the other. The incident has brought local bodies and officials of district administration under scanner for failing to ensure that the woman was cremated with dignity and the distressed family received all the support that it needed.
Read: Heartbreaking Picture of Man Carrying Mother’s Body for Cremation Alone Shakes Himachal
The picture comes when CM Jai Ram Thakur in his meeting with Deputy Commissioners of the State asked them to ensure that the last rites of Covid-19 victims were performed strictly as per the protocol and guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Thakur said that in rural areas Block Development Officers have been designated as nodal officers in their respective areas for this purpose. Thakur asked for adequate PPE kits, dead body bags, disinfectants, sanitizers, waste disposable bags, etc. to be provided to the hospitals and PHCs, so that the same could be made available to the people for performing the last rites as per the protocol.
View the District-wise Details of all COVID-19 Deaths for May 14, 2021 (Till 7 pm) Below:
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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