Torrential rains have wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh, leading to the suspension of the Kinnaur Kailash Yatra and the rescue of 413 stranded pilgrims, officials reported on Wednesday. The pilgrimage route, revered as the winter abode of Lord Shiva at 19,850 feet, was severely damaged after heavy rainfall washed away two makeshift bridges at Tanglippi and Kangarang in Kinnaur district.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) launched daring rescue operations, with videos on X showing pilgrims being ziplined to safety across swollen streams. The Kinnaur district administration has temporarily halted the yatra, which began on July 15 and was set to conclude on August 30, citing dangerously slippery trekking paths and widespread landslides.

The relentless monsoon has disrupted life across the state, closing 617 roads, including four national highways—Chandigarh-Manali (NH 21), Old Hindustan-Tibet Road (NH 05), Mandi-Dharampur (NH 3), and Aut-Sainj (NH 305). Mandi district, recently battered by cloudbursts and flash floods, accounts for 377 of these closures, followed by 90 in Kullu.

The Shimla-Kalka National Highway, briefly blocked at Chakki Mor in Solan, has reopened, but commuters faced severe traffic jams elsewhere. Heavy rainfall, with Kasauli recording 145 mm and Dharampur 122.8 mm since Tuesday night, continues to lash the region, exacerbating conditions.

Educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and anganwadis, have shut down in multiple subdivisions of Shimla, Mandi, Kullu, and Solan districts, with many Shimla city schools switching to online classes or declaring holidays. The Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited (SJPNL) warned of water supply disruptions for the next two to three days due to high turbidity at sources.

Since the monsoon’s onset on June 20, Himachal Pradesh has suffered losses of Rs 1,852 crore, with 108 deaths, 36 missing persons, 55 flash floods, 28 cloudbursts, and 48 major landslides reported. Additionally, 1,738 houses, 1,491 power transformers, and 265 water supply schemes have been damaged, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC).

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