Devastating rains have battered Himachal Pradesh, leaving a trail of destruction with five confirmed deaths from house collapses, 1,337 roads blocked, and schools shuttered in three districts. The relentless downpour triggered landslides and flash floods, paralysing the region and stranding thousands, including 5,000 Manimahesh pilgrims in Chamba.

In Solan’s Samloh village, Hemlata lost her life when her home collapsed under the deluge late Monday. Her family narrowly escaped with minor injuries. In Kullu’s Dhalpur, a woman succumbed to injuries after being rescued from a collapsed house, while in Mandi’s Sundernagar, a landslide claimed three lives, including Bharti (28) and her 2.5-year-old daughter Kirtan. Rescue operations by the NDRF and SDRF continue, with fears that more may be trapped.

The meteorological office issued an orange alert for heavy rain in Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur, and Kinnaur, and a yellow alert for Una and Bilaspur. Schools and educational institutes in Shimla, Kangra, and Sirmaur will remain closed Wednesday due to landslide risks, with online classes mandated. In Manali, nine villages are cut off after floods blocked the Manali-Leh route.

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Four national highways, including the Shimla-Kalka and Chandigarh-Manali routes, are obstructed, severely impacting apple farmers unable to transport produce. Train services on the Shimla-Kalka track are suspended until September 5 due to landslips. In Bilaspur, 16 families were evacuated after cracks appeared in Dadwal village homes.

Since the monsoon began on June 20, Himachal has faced 95 flash floods, 45 cloudbursts, and 121 major landslides, with 340 deaths and losses of Rs 3,523 crore. Over 2,180 power transformers and 777 water supply schemes were disrupted, adding to the chaos. Authorities are working tirelessly to restore connectivity and ensure the safety of stranded residents and pilgrims.

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