Landslides Shut Down 247 Roads, Including Two National Highways, in Himachal; Heavy Rain Alert for a Week
Shimla, July 12 – The monsoon has intensified in Himachal Pradesh, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a Yellow Alert for heavy rainfall in several parts of the state through July 18. On Friday night, districts like Mandi, Bilaspur, and Hamirpur experienced heavy showers, while Rohtang Pass and the higher reaches of Manali witnessed light snowfall, causing a dip in temperatures.
Clouds dominated most of the state on Saturday, with the minimum temperature recorded about 0.6°C below normal. Mandi’s Murari Devi received the highest rainfall at 126 mm, followed by 79 mm in Pandoh, 67 mm in Salapar, 40 mm in Kothi, 53 mm each in Mandi and Jogindernagar, 47 mm in Bhuntar, 40 mm in Bharari, 35 mm in Sarahan, and 34 mm in Neri.
Roads, Power, and Water Supply Severely Affected
Due to heavy rainfall, 247 roads, including two national highways (NH-003 and NH-21), are currently closed across the state. Moreover, 463 power transformers are down and 781 water supply schemes have been disrupted.
Mandi district is the worst affected, with 207 roads blocked (including the two NHs), 272 transformers offline, and 175 water schemes disrupted. Cloudbursts in areas like Seraj, Gohar, and Karsog have caused severe disruption. In Kangra district, over 600 water schemes are affected, while in Hamirpur, 166 transformers have failed, triggering a power crisis.
Monsoon Toll: 92 Deaths, ₹751 Crore in Losses So Far
Since the start of the monsoon season, Himachal Pradesh has reported 92 deaths, 33 missing persons, and 172 injuries due to rain-related incidents. Mandi district has recorded the highest number of fatalities at 21, followed by Kangra (14), Kullu (10), Chamba (9), and Bilaspur (7).
Approximately 1,000 houses have been either completely destroyed or partially damaged. Additionally, 184 shops and 779 cowsheds have been damaged. The disaster has also claimed the lives of 21,500 poultry birds and 953 livestock animals.
Landslides, Flash Floods, and Cloudbursts Wreak Havoc
Since June 20, the state has witnessed:
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31 flash floods
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22 cloudbursts
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17 landslides
The total estimated loss stands at ₹751 crore, with the highest damage reported in:
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Jal Shakti Department: ₹408 crore
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Public Works Department: ₹327 crore
As the monsoon continues, residents are urged to remain cautious and follow official advisories.
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