Cloudburst kills one person in Paonta; torrential rains ravage Himachal

Shimla: As Himachal Pradesh grapples with the devastation caused by torrential rains, a person was killed in another cloudburst in Amboya Khala area of ​​Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur. The victim, Rangi Ram, was trapped under the debris when the cloudburst brought a deluge of mud, stones and water in the area. Five shops, two small bridges, a shed and two traditional watermills (gharats) were also destroyed in the calamity. A boundary wall and a car were also damaged.

As heavy monsoon rains continue across the state, an artificial lake is forming near Angle station in Sataun, posing a major threat to the nearby SC colony. Due to lack of adequate drainage system, water from the National Highway (NH) and adjoining areas is getting collected in the lake. Local residents fear that if the lake overflows or breaches, it may lead to extensive flooding in the colony, posing a serious threat to life and property. Despite these concerns, no drainage plan has been implemented in the area till date.

Incessant rains since morning in Shimla have caused widespread disruption. Roads in the state capital were flooded and drains overflowed due to heavy rains. Landslides have been reported from several parts of the city, with a notable incident taking place near Tolland, where a car got trapped under debris due to flooding. Traffic is disrupted across the city as authorities struggle to deal with the ongoing landslides and road closures.

Roads have been blocked in Hamirpur district as well due to heavy rains. Construction work on NH-3 has further added to the chaos, with an Avadhdevi-Delhi, Jammu Katra Himachal Pradesh Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus getting stuck in debris near Chahar Mor in Bari Panchayat. Fortunately, all passengers are safe, and the bus was later pulled out of the debris. Rajkumar Pathak, regional manager of HRTC depot Hamirpur, confirmed that no injuries were reported.

In the south, Solan district is also grappling with the effects of the incessant monsoon. Heavy rains since Thursday morning have triggered landslides on the Kalka-Shimla National Highway (NH-5), especially near Chakkimor, where boulders and debris have been falling on the highway. This has led to intermittent road closures, severely disrupting travel between Solan and Kaithlighat. The situation has worsened due to the construction work of the four-lane highway, as debris falling from the construction site has added to the danger. While the construction company is working to clear the boulders, commuters are facing long delays and dangerous driving conditions.

The recent weather events have once again exposed the vulnerabilities of the state’s infrastructure, highlighting the urgent need for better disaster preparedness and drainage systems. With the monsoon season nearing its end, residents of Himachal Pradesh are worried about the possibility of more destruction in the coming days.