A deadly wave of landslides and heavy rainfall has left Himachal Pradesh reeling, claiming three lives in Shimla district overnight and paralyzing the state with widespread destruction. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for extremely heavy rain in four to six districts, including Shimla, until Tuesday, warning of further landslides, flash floods, and disruptions. The state’s infrastructure has taken a severe hit, with 793 roads, including five critical national highways, blocked and essential services crippled.
In a tragic incident in Shimla’s Dubloo area near Junga, a landslide buried the home of Virender Kumar, 35, killing him and his 10-year-old daughter. Kumar’s wife, who was outside, narrowly escaped. In another heartbreaking event, an elderly woman, Kalawati, perished when her house in Chol Village, Kotkhai, collapsed under a landslide early Monday. Her body was later recovered from the debris. In Sirmaur’s Chauras area, another house collapse left a woman missing, while in Rohru’s Dyal Mori village, four families—Kuldeep, Sandeep, Pradeep, and Sonfu Ram—were evacuated after a landslide buried two cowsheds and threatened their homes.
Shimla, battered by 115.8 mm of rain since Sunday evening, is among the hardest-hit districts. Nangal Dam recorded the highest rainfall at 220 mm, followed by Raipur Maidan (215 mm), Naina Devi (192 mm), Solan (187 mm), and Nahan (177.8 mm). The relentless downpour triggered landslides across Solan, disrupting railway operations and canceling six trains on the UNESCO-listed Shimla-Kalka line (train numbers 52451, 52453, 52459 from Kalka to Shimla, and 52452, 52454, 52460 from Shimla to Kalka). Authorities stated that services will remain suspended until the tracks are cleared and deemed safe.
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The Chandigarh-Manali National Highway was blocked by a massive landslide near Mansar, while NH 3 (Mandi-Dharampur), NH 305 (Aut-Sainj), NH 5 (Old Hindustan-Tibet), NH 707 (Hatkoti to Paonta), and NH 907 (Paonta to Yamuna Nagar) remain closed, stranding commuters and disrupting supply chains. Mandi reported 266 road closures, followed by Kullu with 177. Across the state, 2,174 power transformers and 365 water supply schemes are non-functional, exacerbating the crisis. High turbidity in water sources is expected to disrupt supplies for days.
In Shimla, a wall at Portmore Government Model School collapsed, and a precariously leaning tree threatens a transformer, residential building, and staff quarters of the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board. Light snowfall in Sarchu and Chandertal in Lahaul and Spiti prompted cautionary advisories for commuters. The IMD reported heavy rainfall across multiple areas, including Rohru (130 mm), Una (117.4 mm), and Kandaghat (108.2 mm), with forecasts predicting continued wet conditions.
Since the monsoon began on June 20, Himachal Pradesh has endured 91 flash floods, 45 cloudbursts, and 95 major landslides, resulting in 320 deaths and damages exceeding Rs 3,056 crore. Over 4,098 houses have been fully or partially destroyed. Despite the devastation, apple farmers in Jubbal-Kotkhai, a key apple belt, have managed to transport 1.3 crore boxes—50% of the season’s produce—to markets, though road blockages threaten further delays, warned Education Minister Rohit Thakur, the local MLA.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed officials to intensify relief efforts, with schools closed in most Shimla districts and other affected areas to ensure safety. The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) continues to coordinate rescue and restoration operations, urging residents to avoid vulnerable areas and stay vigilant as the red alert persists. With more rain forecast, Himachal Pradesh braces for further challenges in this catastrophic monsoon season.
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