Torrential rains and landslides have thrown normal life into disarray across Himachal Pradesh, prompting the closure of schools and colleges in eight of the state’s twelve districts on Monday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for intense rainfall in isolated areas of Kangra and Chamba districts, alongside an orange warning for heavy to very heavy rain across the state and a yellow alert extending until August 31. The relentless monsoon has also led to the suspension of the Manimahesh Yatra and significant infrastructure damage, with 685 roads, including three national highways, blocked as of Sunday night.
Since Sunday evening, moderate to very heavy rainfall has battered the state, with Kahu in Bilaspur recording the highest at 190.5 mm, followed by Jot (159.2 mm), Berthin (156.4 mm), Naina Devi (148.4 mm), and Ghaghas (148 mm). Other areas, including Dharamshala (87.4 mm), Una (80.8 mm), and Shimla, experienced significant downpours, accompanied by thunderstorms in locations like Sundernagar, Kangra, and Bhuntar. Reports of the season’s first snowfall at Shipkila in Lahaul and Spiti’s higher reaches added to the challenges posed by the adverse weather.
The heavy rainfall has triggered widespread disruptions. In Kangra, wards 1 and 2 were submerged, with vehicles floating in floodwaters, while a tehsil office in Hamirpur was inundated. In Shimla’s Tutikandi area, a house was endangered after its retaining wall collapsed. The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) reported that 321 roads in Mandi, 102 in Kullu, and 82 in Chamba were among the 685 closed statewide, including National Highways 3 (Mandi-Dharampur), 154 (Mandi-Jogindernagar), and 305 (Aut-Sainj). Additionally, 1,533 power supply transformers and 168 water supply schemes have been disrupted, severely impacting essential services.
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As a precautionary measure, all government and private educational institutions—excluding residential ones—in Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Mandi, Kangra, Kullu, Chamba, Una, and Solan were ordered closed on Monday. Kangra’s Deputy Commissioner, Hemraj Bairwa, cited the IMD’s alert for potential landslides, flash floods, and road blockages as reasons for the closure, emphasizing risks to life, property, and public safety. Similar directives were issued by the other seven district administrations.
The Manimahesh Yatra, a sacred pilgrimage to the Dal Lake that began on August 17 and is scheduled to conclude on September 15, has been temporarily suspended due to landslides and unsafe conditions, according to Bharmour’s Additional District Magistrate, Kuldeep Singh Rana. Pilgrims stranded along the route have been evacuated to safety, with the pilgrimage set to resume only when conditions improve.
Since the monsoon’s onset on June 20, Himachal Pradesh has recorded 155 deaths in rain-related incidents, including 77 flash floods, 40 cloudbursts, and 80 major landslides, with 37 people still missing. The state has incurred losses of ₹2,348 crore, with damages to roads, power lines, water systems, and crops. The average rainfall from June 1 to August 25 stands at 703.7 mm, a 22% excess compared to the normal 577.9 mm, with August alone seeing 44% excess rainfall.
Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary travel, and adhere to safety guidelines as restoration and relief efforts continue amid forecasts of persistent heavy rainfall.
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