Himachal Pradesh is grappling with significant disruptions following intense rainfall, with the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) reporting the closure of 53 roads and disruptions to five power supply schemes. The local meteorological office has issued a ‘yellow’ alert for thunderstorms and lightning in six districts for Wednesday.
A massive landslide struck National Highway 5 (Hindustan-Tibet road) near Kumarhatti in Solan district, temporarily severing the crucial link between Chandigarh and Shimla. Fortunately, there were no casualties as the area was devoid of traffic at the time. A dramatic video of the landslide, capturing the collapse of retaining walls, has circulated widely on social media.
In addition to the landslides, mild snowfall in Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti districts has marked the beginning of winter, with temperatures dropping significantly. Bilaspur reported the highest rainfall of 100.8 mm since Sunday evening, with other areas such as Kufri, Kasauli, and Neri also experiencing substantial precipitation.
As of Monday evening, road closures were reported across various districts: 27 in Shimla, seven each in Mandi, Kangra, and Kullu, three in Lahaul-Spiti, and one each in Kinnaur and Sirmaur. The state has also suffered disruptions to power supplies and a considerable rainfall deficit of 18% for the monsoon season so far.
Since the monsoon’s onset on June 27, the state has seen 172 fatalities and 30 individuals still missing due to rain-related incidents. Economic damages are estimated at Rs 1,327 crore. Meanwhile, Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti remains the coldest location at 6.8 degrees Celsius, while Una is the hottest at 35.2 degrees Celsius.
