Himachal Pradesh is facing major disruptions due to continuous rainfall across several districts. As of Saturday, 249 roads remain closed, with over 200 in Mandi district alone, following a series of landslides and road blockages.
Key Highways Blocked, Traffic Diverted
Among the major roadblocks, the Mandi to Dharampur route via Kotli on National Highway 3 has been closed to heavy vehicles due to severe weather-related damage. The Mandi-Kullu stretch of the Chandigarh-Manali highway also remained closed for nearly 10 hours due to a landslide near Kainchi Mor, close to the Pandoh dam. Authorities had to divert traffic through the Katola-Kamand route until the debris was cleared. Although one-way movement has resumed, travellers faced long delays and difficult conditions.
Water and Power Supply Hit Hard
The rainfall has severely impacted basic services. As per the State Emergency Operations Centre, 781 water supply schemes and 463 power transformers have been disrupted due to the ongoing weather conditions. Since the monsoon began on June 20, the state has already reported financial losses worth 751 crore.
Rainfall has been especially heavy in some parts, with Murari Devi recording 126 mm, followed by Pandoh (79 mm), Slapper (67.7 mm), and Kothi (60.4 mm). Thunderstorms and strong winds were reported in Kangra, Sundernagar, and Bhuntar, with gusts reaching speeds of up to 48 km/h in certain areas.
Lives Lost and People Missing
Since the start of this year's monsoon, 92 people have lost their lives — 56 in rain-related incidents and 36 in road accidents. Additionally, 172 individuals have been injured, and 33 remain missing. A particularly devastating series of events occurred on the night of June 30 and July 1, when cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides struck Mandi. These incidents resulted in 15 confirmed deaths, while 27 individuals remain missing.
Weather Alert Issued
The local meteorological department has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain in as many as 10 districts of Himachal Pradesh, effective until July 18. So far, the state has received 26% more rainfall than normal, along with 31 flash floods, 22 cloudbursts, and 17 landslides this season.
