Heavy Rains Disrupt Life in Himachal: Power, Water Supply Hit; 2 National Highways and 305 Roads Closed

Shimla, August 3:
Continuous rainfall in Himachal Pradesh has thrown normal life out of gear. As of Sunday morning, two national highways and 305 roads across the state have been rendered impassable due to landslides and flooding. In Lahaul-Spiti, the NH-505 leading to Gramphu–Batal is closed near Chatru, while in Kullu, NH-305 is blocked near Zed. The worst-affected district is Mandi, with 156 roads shut. Other closures include 67 in Kullu, 41 in Chamba, and 27 in Kangra.

Orange Alert for August 4 and 5

The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall on August 4 and 5 in several districts. For today, yellow alerts are in place for Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur. Notable rainfall overnight included 108 mm in Bharari (Bilaspur), 82 mm in Murari Devi (Mandi), and 74 mm in Naina Devi.

Power and Water Supplies Affected

The relentless rain has also disrupted essential services. A total of 284 electricity transformers are non-functional, including 178 in Kullu, 72 in Chamba, and 33 in Mandi. Water supply schemes have been hit as well, with issues reported in 88 schemes in Chamba, 60 in Kangra, and 58 in Mandi.

179 Dead, 36 Still Missing Since June

Since the onset of monsoon on June 20, 179 people have lost their lives, 289 have been injured, and 36 remain missing. The highest number of deaths have occurred in Mandi (37), followed by Kangra (29), Kullu (18), Chamba (17), Shimla (15), Solan (12), and 11 each in Hamirpur, Kinnaur, and Una. Other districts include Bilaspur (8), Lahaul-Spiti (6), and Sirmaur (4).

The state has recorded 28 cloudbursts, 51 flash floods, and 45 major landslides so far, with Mandi alone reporting 16 cloudbursts, 12 landslides, and 11 flash flood incidents.

1,600 Homes Damaged; Mandi Most Affected

Approximately 1,600 homes have been damaged across the state, of which 450 have completely collapsed. Mandi remains the hardest hit, with 1,077 homes damaged, including 386 fully destroyed. Additionally, 296 other structures and 1,445 cattle sheds have been affected. The monsoon has also resulted in the death of 1,533 livestock and over 21,520 poultry birds.

₹1,692 Crore in Total Damages

So far, the state has suffered estimated damages worth ₹1,692 crore. The Public Works Department (PWD) has reported the highest loss at ₹865 crore, followed by the Jal Shakti Department, which has incurred ₹580 crore in damages.