Monsoon Wreaks Havoc in Himachal: 4 Dead, 16 Missing; 406 Roads Blocked, 1,515 Transformers Down
Scene of devastation due to rain
Shimla, July 1:
Relentless monsoon rains have thrown life out of gear across Himachal Pradesh. Landslides triggered by heavy rainfall have become increasingly frequent, disrupting roads, power, and water supply in several districts. While the administration is actively engaged in relief and restoration efforts, the India Meteorological Department’s forecast of continued heavy rain until July 7 has raised further alarm.
According to the latest report from the State Emergency Operations Centre, a total of 406 roads, 1,515 power transformers, and 171 drinking water supply schemes have been affected across the state. Mandi district has been the worst hit, with 248 roads closed and 994 transformers out of service. Areas such as Karsog, Thunag, Gohar, and Dharampur are facing especially difficult conditions.
In Shimla district, landslides have blocked 32 roads in Kotkhai, Chopal, and Chirgaon, and disrupted 103 water supply schemes and 45 transformers. In Sirmaur, the regions of Rajgarh, Sangrah, and Paonta have seen 21 road closures, and 350 transformers are reported to be down in Rajgarh alone.
Other districts are also facing severe disruptions:
-
Kangra: 55 roads and 39 water schemes affected
-
Kullu: 37 roads, 52 transformers impacted
-
Chamba (Bhatiyat and Tissa divisions): damage to roads, transformers, and water supply
-
Una: 8 roads blocked
-
Solan (Arki): 2 roads and 6 transformers down
-
Lahaul-Spiti: 5 transformers non-functional
The past 24 hours have seen the heaviest rainfall of the season so far. Mandi’s Sandhol recorded 220 mm, followed by Pandoh (210 mm), Bijahi (200 mm), Karsog (160 mm), and Palampur and Chopal (140 mm) each.
Tragically, cloudbursts in Mandi district have claimed 4 lives, and 16 people remain missing.
The Meteorological Department has issued weather alerts for July 2–7:
-
Orange Alert on July 2 for Kangra, Solan, and Sirmaur (very heavy rain)
-
Yellow Alert for Shimla, Mandi, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, and Una
-
Yellow alerts continue on July 3 and 4
-
Orange Alert from July 5 to 7, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall and lightning across several areas
The state government has urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and strictly adhere to weather advisories. Relief and restoration efforts have been intensified across all districts to restore essential services as quickly as possible.
Continuing the achievement of the journey of effectiveness and credibility of more than 10 years in the career of journalism, as a woman journalist, I am Serving as the founder, promoter and editor of DiaryTimes with the trust and support of all. My credible coverage may not have given a big shape to the numbers, but my journey presents articles that make you aware of the exact and meaningful situations of Himachal’s politics, ground issues related to the public, business, tourism and the difficult geographical conditions of the state and financial awareness. DiaryTimes, full of the experience of my precise editorial expertise, is awakening the flame of credible journalism among all of you, so that the eternal flame of meaningful change can be lit in the life of the people of the state and the atrocities being committed against the people can be brought to the fore, I am motivated for that. If even a small change comes with the power of my journalism and the whole world becomes a witness to that issues, then I will consider myself fortunate.
