The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall across four to six districts in Himachal Pradesh, warning of severe weather conditions from Sunday through Tuesday. The alert covers Una, Bilaspur, Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur for Sunday, extending to Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Chamba, and Kullu on Monday and Tuesday. Authorities have cautioned residents about potential landslides, flash floods, land subsidence, waterlogging, and swelling rivers and streams, urging heightened vigilance.

The Met office forecasts very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms in isolated areas, posing significant risks to life and infrastructure. Himachal Pradesh has already been battered by an unprecedented 72% excess rainfall in August 2025, recording 440.8 mm against an average of 256.8 mm. Districts like Kullu (162%), Shimla (126%), Una (121%), Solan (118%), and Chamba (104%) have seen rainfall far exceeding normal levels, exacerbating the region’s vulnerability.

The relentless monsoon has triggered widespread devastation, with 822 roads, including three national highways—Old Hindustan Tibet Road, Mandi-Dharampur Road, and Aut-Sainj Road—closed as of Sunday morning due to landslides and flash floods. The Manali-Naggar-Kullu road was blocked after flash floods swept through Naitar and Bhagh streams, though restoration efforts are underway. In Shimla city, debris buried several vehicles, and a fallen electricity pole damaged a car, disrupting power supply in nearby areas.

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Rainfall data from Saturday evening to Sunday morning highlights the intensity: Kangra recorded 45 mm, Una 37.2 mm, Palampur 32 mm, Kufri 35 mm, Shimla 18.2 mm, Manali 18 mm, Jubbarhatti 16.2 mm, and Mandi 15.8 mm. Since the monsoon’s onset on June 20, the state has endured 91 flash floods, 45 cloudbursts, and 93 major landslides, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC). These disasters have disrupted 1,236 power transformers and 424 water supply schemes, compounding the crisis.

The human and economic toll is staggering. The SEOC reports 320 deaths from rain-related incidents and road accidents, with 4,041 houses fully or partially damaged. Financial losses are estimated at Rs 3,042 crore, reflecting the scale of destruction. As the red alert looms, authorities are intensifying efforts to restore infrastructure and ensure public safety, but the forecast of continued heavy rainfall raises fears of further devastation in this already hard-hit region.

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