News
Sirmaur Submerged in Deluge: Landslides Bury Homes and Cattle; Roads Severed, Crops Destroyed
In Chauras village of Nauhra Dhar, a landslide buried a house and cowshed under mounds of mud and rocks. Mohan Lal’s wife, Sheela Devi, along with eight cattle, were trapped beneath the debris. Authorities have provided ₹25,000 in immediate relief to the affected family.
Relentless downpours over the past two days have turned the usually serene valleys of Sirmaur into scenes of devastation. Hillsides have collapsed, rivers are in spate, and daily life has been thrown into complete disarray.
In Chauras village of Nauhra Dhar, a landslide buried a house and cowshed under mounds of mud and rocks. Mohan Lal’s wife, Sheela Devi, along with eight cattle, were trapped beneath the debris. Authorities have provided ₹25,000 in immediate relief to the affected family.
Across the district, roads have been washed away or blocked. The Paonta Sahib–Shillai–Gumma National Highway 707 has caved in near Kacchi Daang, while the Nahan–Sarahan–Kumarhatti–Shimla route has become perilous at several points. A stranded traveler in Gandhi Gram said, “It feels like we’ve been cut off from the world.” The Public Works Department has declared more than 145 roads impassable, and though clearing operations are underway, over 40 Himachal Roadways buses remain stranded.
Near Bhureshwar Mahadev temple, villagers reported a loud roar of a cloudburst that sent rivers surging. In Narag, a car was swept away into a swollen stream. Downstream, rising levels in the Giri river forced engineers at the Jaiton barrage to open seven floodgates. “The water was rising every minute. Had we not opened the gates, the structure itself could have been at risk,” said one worker. The release, however, has put low-lying settlements at risk, with both the Giri and Yamuna rivers nearing danger levels at Paonta Sahib.
In Bangran village, panic spread after the river eroded land near a bridge. Authorities evacuated over 50 people to safety. The river also destroyed a lift irrigation scheme, sweeping away pumps, pipelines, and supporting infrastructure. “Years of hard work vanished in a single night,” a villager lamented.
Damage extended to educational facilities as well. In Chandog, an Anganwadi center collapsed, while a nearby primary school was inundated with floodwater seeping through its walls.
Maize and paddy crops, just weeks away from harvest, now lie buried under sheets of water and mud. In villages across Pachhad and Renuka, locals fear it will take years to recover from the losses.
Officials have urged residents to remain cautious and keep away from swollen rivers and unstable slopes.
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