Cloudburst Chaos Returns to Himachal: 432 Roads Blocked, 3 Highways Shut, Death Toll Rises to 132

Shimla, July 22:
Relentless monsoon rains continue to wreak havoc across Himachal Pradesh. Torrential downpours overnight severely impacted Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, and Mandi districts, disrupting daily life. Una’s Amb recorded the highest rainfall at 94 mm, followed by 67 mm in Bharari (Bilaspur), 58 mm in Barchhin, and 51 mm in Salapar. Nadoun in Hamirpur and Jogindernagar in Mandi each received 48 mm of rainfall.

The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for Tuesday across most parts of the state, warning of continued heavy rainfall. Rain is expected to persist from July 23 to 25, although no formal alert has been issued for this period. However, another yellow alert has been announced for July 26 to 28 due to the likelihood of renewed intense rainfall.

The continuous rain has triggered multiple landslides, leading to widespread road blockages. As of Tuesday morning, the State Emergency Operations Center reported that 3 national highways and 432 roads remain closed. Mandi district is the worst affected with 260 roads blocked, followed by 55 in Kullu, 33 in Hamirpur, 32 in Sirmaur, and 25 in Chamba.

Additionally, the downpour has knocked out 534 power transformers and stalled 197 drinking water schemes, causing widespread power and water shortages. Mandi alone has 201 non-functional transformers, while Kullu, Hamirpur, and Solan have 123, 117, and 71 transformers out of service, respectively.

Water levels in the Sutlej River have risen significantly following the release of 1,200 cusecs of excess water from the Nathpa Dam in Shimla district. NHPC management has urged residents to stay away from the riverbanks to prevent any untoward incidents.

The overall toll from this year’s monsoon season is deeply concerning. 132 people have died, 223 have been injured, and 34 are still missing in rain-related incidents. Mandi and Kangra districts have reported the highest fatalities at 21 each.

Infrastructure damage has also been massive:

• 393 houses, 276 shops, and 1,007 cattle sheds have been completely destroyed.

• Another 769 homes have suffered partial damage.

• Official reports estimate property losses across the state at over ₹1,246 crore.

• Mandi has borne the brunt, with 936 houses affected, 365 of which have been completely flattened.

The situation remains precarious, and authorities are urging extreme caution and minimal travel as recovery efforts continue.