Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Himachal: Damages Cross ₹1,905 Crore, Yellow Alert Extended Till August 12

Shimla, August 6:
The monsoon has once again turned ferocious in Himachal Pradesh, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. Continuous heavy rainfall from Tuesday night through Wednesday disrupted normal life across the state, particularly in Solan, Shimla, Mandi, Chamba, Kangra, and Bilaspur districts. With downpours battering these regions overnight, authorities were forced to shut down all schools, colleges, and Anganwadi centers in Solan and Sirmaur, while similar closures were announced in certain subdivisions of Shimla, Kullu, and Mandi.

According to the Meteorological Department, Kasauli in Solan recorded the highest rainfall in the past 24 hours at 150 mm. Dharampur and Gohar (Mandi) received 120 mm each, while Chamba’s Chuari got 100 mm. Nagrota Surian (Kangra) and Naina Devi (Bilaspur) recorded 90 mm. Several other areas including Banjar (Kullu), Sundernagar and Karsog (Mandi), Gaggal (Kangra), Shimla, Dharamshala, Pandoh, Rampur Bushahr, Jatoun, Narkanda, and Jogindernagar reported 40–80 mm of rainfall.

Due to rising water levels, 23,300 cusecs of water had to be released from Pong Dam on Wednesday evening. With more rain in the forecast, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has extended the yellow alert across various districts until August 12. Heavy rain warnings have been issued for Solan and Sirmaur on August 7, Kangra, Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur on August 8, and Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, and Mandi on August 9. The IMD has urged people to exercise extreme caution, as the monsoon is expected to persist in the coming days.

Landslides and Transport Chaos

Landslides continue to escalate due to the incessant rains, causing major transport disruptions. As of Wednesday evening, 533 roads were blocked across the state, including four national highways—NH-3 and NH-21 (Mandi), NH-305 (Kullu), and NH-5 (Kinnaur). Mandi alone reported 314 blocked roads, followed by 117 in Kullu, 26 in Shimla, 23 in Kangra, 17 in Sirmaur, and eight each in Solan and Una.

Power and Water Supply Severely Hit

Rain-related damage has also crippled basic services. A total of 635 power transformers have failed across Himachal—304 in Solan, 285 in Mandi, and 41 in Shimla. In terms of water supply, 235 drinking water schemes have been disrupted, including 120 in Kangra, 88 in Mandi, and 27 in Hamirpur, affecting thousands of residents.

Rural Areas Devastated, Roads Washed Away

Kullu district has been among the worst affected. In Urtoo village near Bagipul, landslides damaged multiple homes and vehicles. In another incident, a cowshed collapsed, trapping livestock that were later rescued by villagers. A flash flood in the Mochka stream (Nirmand subdivision) washed away an old bridge, cutting off several villages. Rising river levels are increasing the flood threat in low-lying areas.

Death Toll Rises to 199, Dozens Still Missing

Since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, 199 lives have been lost in rain-related incidents across Himachal. The highest fatalities have occurred in Mandi (42), followed by Kangra (31), Shimla (21), Kullu and Chamba (18 each), Solan (13), Una and Hamirpur (12 each), Kinnaur (11), Bilaspur (8), Sirmaur (7), and Lahaul-Spiti (6). Thirty-six people are still missing, and 304 others have been injured.

So far, 1,786 homes have been damaged statewide, with 367 completely destroyed—1,118 of them in Mandi alone (390 fully demolished). Additionally, 298 shops and 1,690 cattle sheds have collapsed, with Mandi accounting for 267 shop losses.

Estimated Losses Mount to ₹1,905 Crore

The total estimated losses due to this year’s monsoon have reached ₹1,905 crore, with the Public Works Department (PWD) suffering losses of ₹1,009 crore and the Jal Shakti Department ₹648 crore. Since the beginning of the season, the state has witnessed 58 flash floods, 28 cloudbursts, and 51 major landslides.

Real-Time Monitoring and Risk Zones Identified

While certain areas are being monitored actively, like Jatogh (Shimla) and Dagshai (Solan), the Ghoda Farm-2 system remains offline and Vishwakarma Temple lacks monitoring infrastructure altogether. According to the State Disaster Management Authority, warning levels remain “moderate” for Kangra Colony and Dharamshala, and “low” in Bhaldun (Nurpur). The department has emphasized the need for heightened vigilance, especially in areas prone to flooding and landslides.

Despite no immediate extreme danger being reported, the continuous rainfall and unstable terrain demand utmost caution in the days ahead.