OTHER STATES BENEFIT FROM OUR WATER; WE RECEIVE LITTLE IN RETURN

The monsoon brings life to Himachal Pradesh, but in recent years it has also brought devastation. In 2023, the state lost more than 550 people to floods and landslides triggered by intense rain. This month, cloudbursts in Mandi and neighbouring areas killed 74 and left at least 34 missing. Hundreds of homes have been swept away, fields have been flattened and roads have vanished. And it is just the beginning of monsoon.

- PRATUL SHARMA

Like in 2023, when Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was just a few months into his tenure, he was quick to be among the people. He trekked to some of the most remote and devastated villages—some of them inhabited by just two dozen families—and distributed rations and ensured further help.

From the floods in 2023 to his party MLAs revolting against him in 2024 to an economic crisis the same year and then the recent cloudbursts, the two and a half years of his term have been eventful. Sukhu’s story has also been of a party worker rising to the top.

As he enters the second half of his tenure, Sukhu faces a triple challenge: rebuilding Himachal, fighting for its rightful dues and convincing the nation that climate change isn’t a debate any more.

In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, Sukhu reflects on what has changed since the 2023 floods, why cloudbursts are becoming more frequent and dangerous, and why the Centre must stop treating Himachal as merely a resource-provider. Excerpts:

Q/ What has been the damage so far this year?

A/ Till now, the damage is estimated to be over ₹800 crore. But more than the financial loss, the real issue is the growing impact of climate change. We witnessed a lot more cloudbursts in the Mandi region, which led to huge losses.

Q/ You have lived in Himachal all your life. How different is this from past rains?

A/ Since my childhood, we have seen monsoons but never such heavy rains or cloudbursts. You can’t imagine the kind of rocks that slide now—some are bigger than two-room houses. They come down like water bombs. The sheer force and flow of water is unimaginable.

Q/ What has been the learning since the 2023 floods?