LANDSLIDE ALERT..! Himachal Pradesh Reels Under Heavy Snowfall and Rains

Himachal Pradesh grappled with chaos on Friday as relentless snowfall and torrential rains triggered landslides, blocked major roads, and disrupted daily life across multiple districts. The third consecutive day of severe weather has isolated vast swathes of the state, with over 200 roads—including three national highways—shut down, stranding residents and tourists alike in Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Chamba, and Shimla.

The deluge has unleashed havoc in Kullu, where heavy rains flooded Akhara Bazaar and Gandhi Nagar, submerging streets and damaging parked vehicles. Swollen nallahs spilled over, prompting the district administration to close 90 roads, including the vital Kullu-Manali left bank route and Jalori Pass, while restricting traffic beyond Nehru Kund due to fresh snow at Solang Nallah and Gulaba. Kullu DC Torul Ravish urged residents to steer clear of rivers and halt outdoor activities, as power outages lingered in Manikaran and Manali despite restoration efforts elsewhere.

In higher reaches, the threat of avalanches loomed large above 2,300 meters, with tribal areas like Kinnaur reporting 2-3 feet of snow and snapped mobile networks. Kothi logged a staggering 120 cm of snowfall by morning, followed by Khadrala (115 cm) and Keylong (75 cm), while lower hills drowned under rains—Seobagh and Bhuntar each saw 113.2 mm. The IMD issued an orange warning for heavy snow in Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, and upper reaches of Chamba and Kullu, predicting more disruption through isolated downpours.

National Highway 5 reopened at Narkanda after hours of closure, but routes like Theog-Hatkoti and Deha-Chopal remained impassable. A landslide at Banala stalled the Manali-Kiratpur highway, with falling stones thwarting repair crews. Across the state, 70 water schemes faltered, and educational institutions in Chamba, Manali, and Kullu shuttered—though CBSE exams pressed on undeterred.

Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi welcomed the precipitation as a boon for farmers, narrowing the winter rainfall deficit to 30% (130.4 mm against a normal 187.1 mm), but cautioned about heightened avalanche risks. “Stay vigilant and indoors,” he advised, granting local officials autonomy to enact closures. While fresh snow cheered the tourism sector, stranded travelers and flooded homes tempered optimism, painting a stark picture of a state caught between nature’s bounty and its fury.