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Snowfall in Shinku La and Baralacha La; Heavy Rainfall Disrupts Life in Mandi and Kullu
Shimla, Updated At : 10:24 AM Aug 26, 2025 IST
Heavy rain and fresh snowfall across Himachal Pradesh on Sunday night and Monday brought normal life to a standstill, with Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu, and Mandi districts bearing the brunt of the weather. The season’s first snowfall was recorded at Shinku La and Baralacha La passes, while heavy rains in the lower areas triggered flash floods and landslides.
In Lahaul-Spiti, flash floods were reported in Pagal Nala, blocking the Manali–Leh highway for several hours. Daredd Nala also witnessed sudden flooding. In the remote Miyar Valley, a major tragedy was narrowly averted when a huge boulder dislodged by heavy rain rolled down onto a relief camp in Karpat village. Fortunately, no casualties were reported as camp residents were outside at the time.
Kullu district too faced heavy downpours that led to flooding in small rivers and streams. Residents of Bashona Panchayat were forced to flee their homes at midnight after a loud surge from a swollen rivulet. Roads, agricultural land, and several apple orchards in Upper Bashona and Piyashani were washed away. The Banjar–Gushaini–Bathahar road remained blocked throughout the day. While no loss of life was reported, significant damage was caused to land and crops. The Deputy Commissioner of Kullu ordered all educational institutions in Manali, Kullu, and Banjar subdivisions to remain closed on Tuesday, August 26.
Mandi district reported equally severe damage. In Kataula, part of a house collapsed, though no injuries occurred. Torrential rain on Monday morning blocked 334 roads across the district; by evening, only 43 had been cleared, with 291 still shut, including the crucial Kiratpur–Manali four-lane highway connecting Mandi and Kullu. Even the alternative Kataula route was blocked, leaving several vehicles stranded.
Authorities ordered the closure of all educational institutions in Mandi, Kullu, and Lahaul-Spiti due to the inclement weather. Rising water levels in the Beas River prompted dam authorities at Larji and Pandoh to release excess water, with the public advised to stay away from riverbanks for the next 24 hours.
Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan issued an advisory urging residents and tourists to avoid higher reaches, riverbanks, and landslide-prone zones. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Shimla has issued a red alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall with thunderstorms across Mandi from the afternoon of August 25 until the morning of August 26.
Devgan advised limiting travel to essential needs only and keeping updated on road and weather conditions. He warned that continuous rain has loosened soil, increasing the risk of landslides, and said dam authorities will continue releasing water periodically due to high reservoir levels.
Under Section 30 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the DC has ordered all government and private schools, ITIs, vocational training centers, DIET, and Anganwadi centers in Mandi district to remain closed on August 26 as a precautionary measure. Residential institutions such as IIT Mandi and SLBS Medical College are exempt.
For public assistance, emergency helpline numbers 01905-226201 to 226204 and toll-free 1077 have been issued.
