Dehradun, 25 Sep: The monsoon season this year has inflicted severe devastation across Uttarakhand, with losses and damage reported in almost every sector and department. The Public Works Department, Drinking Water Department, Electricity Department, Revenue Department and others were among the worst affected. In addition to infrastructure, horticultural crops also faced extensive destruction this year, aggravating the crisis for farmers across the state.
District-wise figures reflect the scale of devastation. In Dehradun, crops over 965.5 hectares were affected, impacting 2,150 farmers with estimated losses of Rs 179.90 lakh. Uttarkashi has emerged as the worst-hit district, with 7,507.69 hectares of crops damaged, causing losses worth Rs 47.46 crores and affecting 2,350 farmers. In Tehri, crops spread across 3,191 hectares were destroyed, impacting 85 farmers and leading to losses of Rs 163.08 lakhs. Nainital recorded damage in over 379.20 hectares, where 1,200 farmers were affected and the losses were assessed at Rs 21.84 lakhs. In Champawat, 119.40 hectares of crops were ruined, affecting 341 farmers and causing losses estimated at Rs 13.43 lakhs.
It may be recalled that, according to the State Disaster Management Department, the estimated economic damage during the monsoon amounts to nearly Rs 2,500 crore across various sectors. In response to the situation, the Uttarakhand government sought a relief package from the Centre, following which immediate financial assistance of Rs 1,200 crore was sanctioned by the Centre to help restore the damaged infrastructure.
