A debilitating natural disaster, constant financial crunch, and war against 'chitta' marked the year in Himachal Pradesh, which also witnessed historic court verdicts and a furore over the mysterious death of a power corporation engineer. Excessive rains during the monsoon caused havoc, triggering multiple cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides in the state. Nature's fury spared none, reducing houses, roads, bridges, and public utilities to rubble, stranding many and killing at least 240 people. Chamba, Mandi, Kullu, and Kangra districts were hit the most severely. The government invoked Section 34 of the National Disaster Management Act and declared the entire state "disaster-affected." By the end of it, the government pegged the state losses at Rs 5,000 crore. The widespread destruction drew the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the wrecked districts and announced a relief package of Rs 1,500 crore. That was hardly the end of it. The Congress government