Himachal Pradesh has suffered an estimated loss of Rs 46,000 crore owing to natural disasters over the past five years, translating to an annual hit of nearly 4 per cent to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP). This alarming assessment was made by the first Himachal Pradesh Human Development Report (HPHDR) 2025, released on Sunday by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

The report, jointly prepared by the state government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), underscores the growing impact of climate change on Himachal’s economy, public health, and ecology. It notes that extreme weather events, recurrent landslides, flash floods, and prolonged droughts are reshaping the state’s development trajectory.

On the human development index (HDI) scale, Solan district ranked

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