Himachal suffered losses of Rs 46,000 crore due to natural calamities in 4 years: Report

According to the report, water stress is intensifying with 70% of traditional water sources drying up or under duress due to erratic precipitation, forcing several villages to depopulate.

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh suffered losses to the tune of Rs 46,000 crore over the past four years due to natural disasters and the impact of climate change, according to a state human development report released here on Monday.

The 256-page document titled 'Himachal Pradesh Human Development Report 2025: Building the Future in a Climate Impacted World', prepared by the Department of Environment and Science in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was released by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

Around 1,700 people lost their lives in the past five monsoon seasons, the report said.

According to the report, water stress is intensifying with 70 per cent of traditional water sources drying up or under duress due to erratic precipitation, forcing several villages to depopulate.

Forest fire incidents have also surged from 856 in 2022-2023 to 2,580 cases in 2024-25, it said.

Average annual temperatures have risen by 1.5 degrees Celsius since 1901, with temperatures projected to rise to 2-3 degrees Celsius by the mid-century, the report said, warning that climate change can impact economic development through rising temperatures, extreme precipitation or cloudbursts, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) and forest fires.

Glaciers are retreating at rates exceeding 50 metres per year while the creation of new glacial lakes has increased the risk of GLOF.

The number of glacial lakes in Sutlej basin alone increased from 562 in 2019 to 1,048 in 2023, with similar trends observed in Chenab and Ravi basins. GLOF risks were highest in Kullu and Kinnaur districts, the report said.

It also assessed economic disruptions in agriculture, construction, and tourism sectors and said an estimated Rs 10,000 crore is required to augment the state's adaptability to climate crisis.

Releasing the report, Sukhu said the document reflects the state's progress, resilience and aspirations of its people. "It is a matter of pride that according to the Human Development Report-2025, the average Human Development Index (HDI) of Himachal Pradesh is 0.78, higher than the national average of 0.63." However, analysis of the climate-adjusted HDI at the district level suggested that the overall development in the state was more resilient to potential hazards.

Expressing concern over climate change, Sukhu said it has emerged as a serious global issue and if a sustainable solution was not worked out immediately, both present and future generations would have to face its severe consequences.

He further said the state has recently achieved the distinction of becoming a fully literate state, with literacy rate at 99.30 per cent, while the poverty rate in the state is below 7 per cent. Infant mortality rate has dropped to 21 per 1,000 live births and life expectancy has increased to 72 years, he added.

During this year's monsoon, Himachal has suffered heavy losses due to climate change patterns. From June to September, 47 cloudbursts, 98 flash floods, and 148 major landslides were reported in the state, and 270 people died in rain-related incidents, according to data provided by the state emergency operation centre.

Sukhu said currently the mountains, rivers, forests and glaciers are victims of global warming, due to which the state is grappling with problems like excessive rainfall, floods and landslides.

He said the world must act as one family and join hands to conserve the environment, ensuring planned economic development.

Stressing that the future must be human-centric and climate-resilient, he reiterated several initiatives started by the state government aimed at reducing the impact of global warming like use of solar energy, electric vehicles and others.

This is the first state human development report in India that examines the critical intersection between human development and climate change, providing climate-adjusted HDI which assesses how climate change is reshaping development outcomes, UNDP representative Angela Lusigi said.

Policy frameworks such as the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC), green budgeting, Natural Farming Mission, and promotion of solar and hydrogen energy projects have been highlighted as positive initiatives in the report.

The report said "business as usual" is no longer an ideal approach and climate change requires urgent cross-sectoral action.

People, especially women, leading the change through local institutions should be at the heart of climate action, the report stressed, adding that data and technology would enable more effective decision-making.