Himachal Politics Amid Crisis: Assembly Pushes for Relief, Roads, and Resilience
Shimla, August 29, 2025 — Himachal Pradesh’s political landscape is buzzing with activity as leaders grapple with monsoon devastation, highway collapses, and mounting public anger over taxes and trade disruptions.
Assembly Pushes for National Calamity Tag
In a rare show of urgency, the Himachal Pradesh Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to declare the ongoing monsoon devastation as a national calamity. Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri pegged damages at over ₹2,753 crore, spanning roads, agriculture, housing, and public infrastructure. This resolution, pushed by both ruling and opposition benches, is expected to intensify Delhi–Shimla coordination in the coming days.
Speaker Demands Highway Restoration
Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania chaired an emergency meeting with NHAI and PWD officials, pressing for immediate restoration of nearly 850 km of four-lane highways badly damaged by landslides. The Speaker directed that an NHAI official remain present during the Assembly session to ensure accountability — a rare move reflecting the urgency.
Border Tension Over Entry Tax
Meanwhile, Nangal residents in Punjab staged a protest against Himachal’s entry tax on Punjab-registered vehicles, blocking the Nangal–Dharamshala highway for over 30 minutes. Protesters alleged the levy violates NHAI norms and unfairly penalizes BBMB workers and locals. Punjab groups are now demanding a reciprocal toll on Himachali vehicles if the tax is not rolled back — escalating a potential inter-state flashpoint.
Apple Crisis Becomes Political
In Kullu and Mandi, nearly 50,000 cartons of apples lie stranded as a key route collapsed. PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh assured urgent road restoration but admitted alternate routes were limited. With apples forming the backbone of Himachal’s rural economy, opposition leaders are accusing the government of “failing farmers during harvest season.”
Relief & Pilgrim Evacuation
Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena confirmed that over 3,000 Manimahesh pilgrims have been evacuated from Bharmour, while around 10,000 remain stranded in Chamba. Relief camps and airlifting operations are being prepared, but with road connectivity broken in several districts, the government is under immense pressure.
Political Takeaway
Himachal’s ruling coalition faces twin challenges — disaster management and rising political heat. With infrastructure crumbling, agriculture disrupted, and border tensions brewing, the crisis has become more than just a natural disaster. It’s now a litmus test of governance and political accountability in the hill state.
Himachal Political Storm! 🚨
Assembly demands national calamity status after monsoon damages ₹2,753 Cr 🌧️
Highways in ruins 🛣️, apple economy hit 🍎, Punjab protests over entry tax 🚗, and 10,000 pilgrims stranded 🙏
Politics meets crisis in the hills ⛰️ — is Shimla ready for the test?
