Landslide Threat at 22 Locations in Himachal; Orange Alert for Heavy Rain on August 4 & 5

Shimla, August 3:
Relentless rainfall in Himachal Pradesh has raised serious concerns about landslides across the state. According to the latest report from the State Emergency Operations Centre, landslide monitoring is currently underway at 22 high-risk sites.

Of these, Baldun (Nurpur) in Kangra district and Dagshai in Solan have been flagged as ‘high-risk zones’—making them particularly vulnerable.

In Mandi district, moderate risk has been identified at locations such as Parashar, Kotrupi, Sandhol, Ghoda Farm (Shalgi North), Griffon Peaks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10, Sanari-2, Tattapani, and Vishwakarma Temple. Monitoring at Ghoda Farm-2 is currently down due to a system malfunction. Moderate risk has also been reported in Colony and Dharamshala (Kangra), Dagshai (Solan), and Jutogh (Shimla).

Orange Alert Issued for Next Two Days

The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain in several districts for the next 48 hours. On August 4, Una, Bilaspur, and Hamirpur are under orange alert, while Kangra, Mandi, Solan, and Sirmaur are under yellow alert.

On August 5, orange alerts remain in effect for Una, Bilaspur, Kangra, and Sirmaur, while Hamirpur, Mandi, Shimla, and Solan are on yellow alert. A yellow alert continues for Kangra and Mandi on August 6, with unstable weather likely to persist through August 9.

296 Roads and a National Highway Closed

As of this morning, 296 roads and one national highway are closed due to landslides and flooding. NH-505 near Chhatru in Lahaul-Spiti remains blocked. The highest number of road closures have been reported in Mandi (164), followed by Kullu (67), Kangra (25), and Chamba (21)—severely impacting local transportation.

Power and Water Supply Disrupted

The downpour has caused major disruptions to essential services:

• 134 power transformers are currently non-functional, including 74 in Kullu, 37 in Chamba, and 18 in Mandi.

• 266 drinking water schemes are also out of operation, with 121 in Chamba, 74 in Mandi, and 60 in Kangra.

Casualties and Property Damage So Far

Since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, the state has reported:

• 184 fatalities

• 292 injuries

• 36 people still missing

District-wise, Mandi has recorded the highest death toll (37), followed by Kangra (30), Kullu (18), Chamba and Shimla (17 each), and others. The state has also witnessed 28 cloudbursts, 53 flash floods, and 47 landslides, with Mandi alone accounting for a large share.

1,714 Crore Rupees in Damages; Over 1,600 Homes Affected

Heavy rains have caused damage to 1,649 homes, of which 457 have been completely destroyed. Mandi district has suffered the most, with 1,089 homes affected and 391 fully collapsed. Additionally, 296 shops and 1,483 livestock shelters have been damaged. The monsoon has led to the death of 1,536 animals and over 21,500 poultry birds.

The total estimated financial loss so far stands at ₹1,714 crore, with:

• Public Works Department incurring losses of ₹888 crore

• Jal Shakti Department reporting ₹580 crore in damages

Authorities have urged citizens to avoid traveling to vulnerable areas and to follow all weather advisories and emergency protocols.