Relentless cloudbursts and flash floods have unleashed chaos across Himachal Pradesh, closing 396 roads, damaging homes, and isolating communities in Shimla, Kullu, Kinnaur, and Lahaul and Spiti districts. No fatalities have been reported, but the destruction of infrastructure and livelihoods has left the hill state reeling, with losses since June 20 estimated at ₹2,031 crore.

Since Wednesday night, torrential rains have battered the region, with Kandaghat recording 100 mm of rainfall, followed by Jatton Barrage (87 mm), Una (85.4 mm), Solan (81.4 mm), and Shimla (69 mm). The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'yellow' alert, forecasting heavy rain until August 20, raising fears of further landslides and floods.

In Kullu, cloudbursts at Shrikhand hill in Nirmand and Bathadh hill in Tirthan valley triggered flooding in the Kurpan ravine, forcing the evacuation of Bagipul market. Riverside cottages were damaged, vehicles swept away, and farmland buried under debris. Kullu Deputy Commissioner Torul S. Raveesh confirmed that damage assessment teams are on the ground, with no casualties reported.

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Shimla faced severe disruptions, with connectivity to Ganvi, Kiao, and Koot panchayats severed after two bridges were washed away. A police post in Ganvi Ravine and an electricity department store were destroyed, while 26 homes and shops in the area were damaged. The road to Indira Gandhi Medical College was blocked by landslides and fallen trees, and schools in Jubbal sub-division were closed for safety.

In Lahaul and Spiti, flash floods ravaged Karpat, Changut, and Udgos Nala in the Mayad valley, damaging nearly 10 bighas of agricultural land. Residents of Karpat village were relocated to safer areas. In Kinnaur, the Army conducted a daring midnight rescue, saving four stranded civilians, including one injured, in Rishi Dogri valley after floods inundated a road construction site.

The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) reported that Mandi district saw the highest number of road closures (173), followed by Kullu (71). National Highway-305 (Aut-Sainj) and NH-505 (Khab-Gramphoo) are among the blocked routes, disrupting transport and stranding commuters. Additionally, 1,593 power transformers and 178 water supply schemes are non-functional, crippling essential services.

Since the monsoon’s onset on June 20, Himachal has endured 63 flash floods, 31 cloudbursts, and 57 major landslides, claiming 126 lives and leaving 36 missing. The Supreme Court recently warned that unchecked environmental degradation could lead to the state’s ecological collapse, a sentiment echoed by locals on X who blame poorly planned infrastructure projects for exacerbating the crisis.

Rescue and relief efforts are underway, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local teams working to restore access and support affected communities. Authorities urge residents and tourists to avoid landslide-prone areas as the volatile weather persists, threatening further devastation in this fragile Himalayan region.

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