This year, the onset of monsoon in India was under unusual circumstances. The country saw its highest ever rainfall in the month of May. The official onset of monsoon was declared over the hill states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand around June 20 and monsoon covered the entire country by June 29. Right from the start, rains wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh. By July 17, the state had recorded more than 100 deaths and losses worth more than Rs 800 crore due to heavy rainfall and landslides. Many districts including Mandi, Kullu and Shimla were affected.
