Woman killed by falling rocks as rain-related disasters rise

Shimla, August 20: Torrential rains have wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh, with landslides and floods killing people and causing widespread disruption. In a tragic incident, a woman was killed after she was hit by boulders that fell from a hill while on her way to the historic Khundi Jatra in Chamba district. The deceased was identified as Subhadra Devi, wife of Man Singh, a resident of Kokra village in Chamba. She died on Tuesday. Her body was later taken to the Teesa hospital where it was handed over to her family after post-mortem. Superintendent of Police Abhishek Yadav confirmed the incident and highlighted the dangers posed by the incessant rains.

This tragic death is not an isolated incident. On Monday, a youth from Una died after being trapped under debris while returning from the Manimahesh Yatra. The ongoing monsoon has made the hilly terrains of Himachal Pradesh even more dangerous, with landslides and falling rocks posing a constant threat to those travelling through the region.

Apart from these tragedies, the heavy rains have exposed critical deficiencies in municipal infrastructure across the state. In Mandi town, rainwater has entered several houses, and several wards are reeling under floods. Link roads are in poor condition, and debris has clogged the town drains, further worsening the situation. In Ravinagar, residents had to wake up at 4 am to clear pathways for rainwater to drain out, indicating the severity of the floods.

Kangra district has also been severely affected, with 16 houses collapsing due to incessant rains. The situation is equally dire in Dharamsala, where the town’s main source of drinking water located at Gajj Khad has been washed away, leading to a severe water crisis.

The capital Shimla is also not untouched by rain-induced disasters. A landslide at the Boileauganj crossing on Monday disrupted vehicular movement, forcing authorities to reroute traffic through alternate routes. In another incident, a vehicle got trapped under debris due to a landslide in Devnagar, further complicating the situation. Besides, the Mandi-Kullu road was closed on Tuesday morning due to debris falling near Char Mile between Mandi and Pandoh. The road has been reopened, but the risk still persists due to heavy rains.