245 Roads Blocked by Landslides in Himachal: 62 Dead, 56 Missing, 103 Injured
Scene of devastation due to rain
Shimla, July 2:
Himachal Pradesh continues to battle a severe monsoon crisis. Since June 20, relentless rainfall has disrupted life across the state. The Meteorological Department has forecast continued bad weather until July 8, issuing a yellow alert for heavy rain and thunderstorms in Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, and Sirmaur on July 3. The yellow alert remains in effect for Kangra, Mandi, and Sirmaur on July 4 as well.
Orange Alerts and Flood Risk
From July 5, the intensity of the rain is expected to increase. Orange alerts have been issued for Una, Kangra, and Mandi, while yellow alerts are in place for Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Chamba, Kullu, Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur. On July 6, orange alerts will again be in effect for Una, Bilaspur, Kangra, Sirmaur, Shimla, and Mandi. July 7 will also see an orange alert, followed by a yellow alert on July 8. The Met Department has warned of possible flooding in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla on July 3.
245 Roads Closed, Power and Water Supply Hit
Continuous rains and frequent landslides have left 245 roads blocked across the state. Mandi is the worst affected, with 151 roads still closed. Kullu and Shimla report 37 and 27 blocked roads, respectively. In total, 918 power transformers are out of service, affecting electricity supply—489 in Mandi alone, 333 in Hamirpur, and 65 in Kullu. Additionally, 683 drinking water schemes have been disrupted, including 465 in Mandi and 144 in Hamirpur.
62 Lives Lost, ₹283 Crore in Damages
According to the State Emergency Operations Center, since June 20, 62 people have died, 56 are still missing, and 103 have been injured. The disaster has also claimed the lives of 84 livestock and damaged 223 homes—168 of them in Mandi alone. The total estimated damage so far stands at over ₹283 crore, with the Jal Shakti Department suffering ₹163 crore in losses and the Public Works Department ₹117 crore.
Mandi Hit the Hardest: 11 Dead, 34 Missing, 148 Homes Destroyed
Mandi has borne the brunt of the disaster. On the night of July 1, cloudbursts and landslides struck Thunag, Gohar, Karsog, Dhar Jarol, and Pandav Shila areas. Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan confirmed 11 fatalities and 34 people missing. The district has reported 148 homes destroyed, 31 vehicles damaged, 2 shops collapsed, and 14 bridges washed away. At least 162 livestock have died. Over 370 people have been rescued, and relief and rescue operations are ongoing on a war footing.
Relief Material Airlifted
Due to extensive road damage in the Thunag sub-division, relief supplies could not be delivered by road. The district administration sought assistance from the Ministry of Defence and Indian Air Force. On Wednesday, an Air Force helicopter flew into Mandi and airlifted essential items including food and medicines to the affected area. However, further sorties were suspended due to adverse weather conditions.
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