Heavy Rains in Himachal Pradesh Block 400 Roads. Landslides Disrupt Connectivity to Several Villages. Administration Engaged in Relief Efforts. National Highways and Local Routes Affected; Meteorological Department Issues Yellow Alert.
Shimla Rain: Heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh on Monday has disrupted normal life. The rainfall in several parts of the state has led to landslides and road closures. Approximately 400 roads, including three national highways, are blocked. According to officials, no major loss of life or property has been reported so far.
Major Roads and Routes Affected
In the Sunni area of Shimla district, the Shimla-Mandi road has been closed due to erosion and landslides along the Satluj River. The road width has been reduced to only 1.5 meters, making vehicle movement dangerous. The alternate route via Thali Bridge is also closed, cutting off Karasog from Shimla.
In the Kullu district, heavy landslides near Pagal Nala on the Aut-Larji-Sainj road have disrupted road connectivity to approximately 15 villages.
Rainfall Details
Several areas received heavy rainfall from Sunday evening to Monday. Dhaulakuan recorded 113 mm, Jot 70.8 mm, Malraon 70 mm, and Palampur 58.7 mm of rainfall. Other affected areas include Jattan Barrage (49.4 mm), Paonta Sahib (40.6 mm), Murari Devi (33 mm), Gohar (32 mm), and Nahan (30.1 mm). Sundernagar and Murari Devi experienced thunderstorms. Tabo, Reckong Peo, and Kufri experienced b winds with speeds ranging from 37 to 44 kilometers per hour.
Road Closures and Affected Areas
According to the State Emergency Operation Center (SEOC), a total of 400 roads are closed. These include National Highway 3 (Mandi-Dharampur route), National Highway 305 (Aut-Sainj route), and National Highway 505 (Khab to Gramphu). 192 roads in Mandi district and 86 roads in Kullu district are closed. Heavy rainfall has disrupted 883 electricity supply transformers and 122 water supply schemes, causing inconvenience to the general public.
Meteorological Department Alert
The local meteorological department has issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in several parts of the state until August 24, with the exception of August 21. The department has appealed to citizens to avoid unnecessary travel in hilly areas and to remain vigilant.
Since the start of the monsoon on June 20, rain-related incidents have caused heavy damage to Himachal Pradesh. According to officials, the total property damage is estimated at ₹2,173 crore. During this period, there have been 74 flash floods, 36 cloudbursts, and 66 major landslides. 136 people have died and 37 are missing.
Administration and Relief Efforts
The state government and district administration have initiated relief and rescue operations in the affected areas. Teams have been activated to clear blocked roads and provide relief to people stranded in landslide-affected areas. Primary assistance is being provided in areas affected by disruptions in electricity and water supply.
The general public is appealed to avoid traveling in landslide and flood-affected areas. If travel is unavoidable, information about routes and safety should be obtained from local authorities.
