Landslides Hit Shimla Villages, Leave Two Injured and Five Houses Damaged

Landslides triggered by heavy rainfall struck Sheel Prog and Thala villages in Shimla’s Rampur subdivision, injuring two people and damaging five houses, officials reported on Saturday. In Thala, brothers Gopi Chand and Pyare Lal lost their homes, with Pyare Lal and his son Hemant sustaining injuries requiring medical attention. In Sheel Prog, properties owned by Tulsi Das, Lekhraj, and Harish Kumar were severely damaged. The district administration assessed the sites, providing immediate relief to affected families.

The monsoon’s relentless onslaught has caused widespread disruption across Himachal Pradesh, with 560 roads, including key national highways like Chandigarh-Manali, Old Hindustan-Tibet, Mandi-Dharampur, and Aut-Sainj, blocked due to landslides. A fresh slide near Hanogi Mata temple on the Mandi-Kullu road halted traffic, with vehicles stranded on both sides. A police team led by Anil Katoch narrowly escaped disaster during a patrol when a mountainside collapsed. Road-clearing operations are underway, but 936 power transformers and 223 water supply schemes remain disrupted, per the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC).

Manali faces severe damage, with the Beas River washing away land chunks and the Old Manali bridge, flooding shops and homes. Locals like Duni Chand and Priya reported waterlogged properties and disrupted drinking water schemes due to the overflowing Manalsu drain. In Chamba, thousands of Manimahesh Yatra pilgrims are stranded, particularly in Bharmour, where satellite phones have been deployed to aid communication, said DGP Ashok Tewari. Police are working round-the-clock to clear roads and ensure safety.

Also Read: Monsoon Havoc: Himachal Battles Floods, Landslides

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall (7-20 cm) in Una, Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, and Mandi on Saturday, extending to Chamba, Kangra, and Kullu on Sunday. Recent rainfall data shows Bhattiyat (Chamba) at 104 mm, Jogindernagar (86 mm), Rampur (75.5 mm), and Shimla (62 mm). Thunderstorms hit multiple areas, exacerbating risks. The SEOC reports 164 deaths, 40 missing, and losses of ₹2,774 crore since June 20, driven by 91 flash floods, 43 cloudbursts, and 88 major landslides. Mandi (214 roads) and Kullu (162 roads) are the hardest hit.

Himachal’s apple economy, worth ₹5,000 crore, faces setbacks as damaged roads hinder transport, with commission agents delaying procurement in markets like Bandrol. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has sought central aid to address the crisis, which has also disrupted power and water supplies across districts. The IMD predicts wet conditions until September 1, urging vigilance amid ongoing rescue and restoration efforts.

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