Shimla, July 19 -- The monsoon season in Himachal Pradesh has turned deadly, with a cumulative death toll of 116 people reported between June 20 and July 18, according to a report released by the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).

Of the total casualties, 68 deaths have been directly attributed to rain-related disasters such as flash floods, cloudbursts, landslides, lightning, and electrocution, while 48 fatalities occurred due to road accidents, many of them linked to slippery conditions and falling debris during intense downpours.

The state has witnessed 33 flash floods, 22 cloudbursts, and 19 landslides in less than a month, wreaking havoc on infrastructure and endangering human lives. Districts like Mandi, Kullu, Kangra, an...