Relentless Rain Batters Himachal: Cloudburst in Rampur, Hundreds of Roads and Transformers Disrupted
Mandi, August 7
Shimla, August 7 – Continuous rainfall across Himachal Pradesh has thrown normal life into disarray. Late Wednesday night, a cloudburst struck the Darshal panchayat of Rampur sub-division in Shimla district, triggering a massive flood in the stream that flows through Taklech market. Authorities quickly evacuated several nearby homes as a precaution. Fortunately, there have been no reports of casualties, and rainfall has temporarily subsided.
Heavy Rainfall Alert Until August 13
The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall across the state until August 13. A warning for thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds has also been issued for August 8 and 9. In the past 24 hours, the highest rainfall was recorded in Naina Devi (Bilaspur) with 92 mm, followed by Raipur Maidan (81 mm), Pachhad (75 mm), BBMB (73 mm), Olinda (67 mm), Kangra (62 mm), and Dharamshala (42 mm). Some respite came as Shimla woke up to mild sunshine on Thursday morning.
Over 493 Roads Blocked, Including Three National Highways
The ongoing rain has significantly increased the risk of landslides across the state. According to the State Disaster Management Authority, as of Thursday morning, 493 roads remain blocked, including three national highways. Mandi district is the worst affected with 277 roads closed, followed by Kullu (117), Shimla (24), and Kangra (23). The Mandi-Kullu National Highway (NH-21) is blocked near Jhalogi and Dawada. NH-305 in Kullu is disrupted near Jahed-Khang, and NH-5 in Kinnaur is closed near Ribba Nala.
Power and Water Supplies Severely Affected
Heavy rains have also severely impacted power and water supply systems. A total of 1,120 power transformers are non-functional, including 436 in Solan, 375 in Kullu, 265 in Mandi, and 41 in Shimla. In addition, 245 drinking water supply schemes are affected, including 88 in Mandi, 120 in Kangra, and 9 in Hamirpur.
Water Released from Pong Dam – Public Urged to Stay Alert
On Thursday, 40,000 cusecs of water were released from Pong Dam in Kangra district. Authorities have urged residents to stay away from rivers and streams to avoid any untoward incidents.
199 Deaths This Monsoon, Extensive Damage Across State
Since the onset of monsoon on June 20, rain-related incidents have claimed 199 lives, while 36 people are reported missing and 304 injured. Mandi district has reported the highest number of fatalities at 42. So far, 1,786 houses have been damaged across the state, with 367 completely destroyed. Additionally, 298 shops and 1,690 cowsheds have also been affected. Mandi alone accounts for 1,118 damaged houses and 267 shops.
Damages Cross ₹1,905 Crore, Surge in Flash Floods and Cloudbursts
According to official estimates, the state has suffered damages exceeding ₹1,905 crore so far. The Public Works Department alone has incurred losses worth ₹1,009 crore, while the Jal Shakti Department has reported losses of ₹648 crore. This monsoon season has already seen 58 instances of flash floods, 28 cloudbursts, and 51 major landslides.
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