Himachal Pradesh continues to battle the brunt of relentless monsoon fury, with districts like Mandi, Kullu, and Chamba among the hardest hit. Torrential rains, landslides, and flash floods have caused widespread damage, disrupted essential services, and led to the tragic loss of 179 lives since June 20, including 101 due to rain-related incidents and 78 from weather-induced road accidents.
The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), in its latest report, flagged high landslide risks across 22 locations, particularly in Mandi, Kangra, Shimla, and Solan districts. Two sites—Baldun in Kangra’s Nurpur and Dakshi in Solan—were classified as “High Risk,” while several others were placed under “Moderate Risk.”
As of August 3, the state reported 296 blocked roads, 134 damaged power transformers, and 266 disrupted water supply schemes. National Highway-505 in Lahaul-Spiti remains closed due to landslides, cutting off vital access to remote areas.
The cumulative damage to infrastructure—including roads, power lines, water systems, schools, and health facilities—has surpassed ₹1,71,495 lakh. Over 88,800 hectares of agricultural and horticultural land have also been impacted.
Relief and restoration efforts are underway, but persistent rains and unstable terrain are hampering operations. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall in the next 12 hours, with the possibility of heavy showers in districts including Bilaspur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, and Solan.
Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Sunday visited the worst-affected areas in Mandi’s Siraj Assembly Constituency, including Thunag, Bakshyar, and Janjehli. Distributing relief materials and interacting with affected families, he praised their resilience and assured that all possible assistance would be extended.
“The courage shown by residents despite extensive damage to land, property, and livestock is truly admirable,” he said, stressing the need for both internal and external resources to manage such disasters more effectively.
Residents have been urged to remain alert and avoid travel in vulnerable zones as the monsoon continues to pose serious risks across the hill state.
