Weather Update : Himachal Pradesh Faces Devastation as Heavy Rains Trigger Landslides and Flash Floods
Shimla – Himachal Pradesh was struck by heavy rains on Sunday, resulting in the loss of lives, widespread landslides, and flash floods. The torrential downpour has caused significant damage to houses, disrupted normal life, and forced authorities to declare a two-day closure of schools and colleges.
Officials have reported that all major rivers in the region are in spate. The local meteorological office issued a fresh red alert for extremely heavy rains, with amounts surpassing 204 mm, in ten out of the twelve districts. The tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti were the only exceptions to the alert on July 9.
The past 36 hours have witnessed a total of fourteen major landslides and thirteen flash floods. The state emergency operation center has reported the closure of over 700 roads due to these incidents. Distressing accounts have emerged, including shops being swept away in Manali, vehicles washed away by flash floods in Kullu, Kinnaur, and Chamba, and agricultural land being damaged. Numerous roads in Shimla districts have also been closed.
Tragic incidents of loss of life have been reported as well. In the Kotgarh area of Shimla district, a landslide caused a house to collapse, leading to the deaths of three family members: Anil, his wife Kiran, and their son Swapnil. Another landslide near Kullu town claimed the life of a woman when it damaged a makeshift house. In Katiyan tehsil of Chamba, a person was buried alive due to a landslide on Saturday night.
Expressing his condolences, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu directed the district administration to provide immediate relief to the affected families.
Approximately 200 individuals are currently stranded in Chandratal, Lahaul and Spiti. Superintendent of Police Mayank Chaudhary, who is present at the scene, assured that everyone is safe, and arrangements for food and essential medicines have been made. The rescue operation is expected to take 1-2 days, pending the restoration of the road.
As a precautionary measure, the Himachal Pradesh Government has ordered the closure of all government and private schools and colleges in the state for July 10 and 11. Schools affiliated with ICSE, CBSE, and other boards have been given the authority to make their own decisions regarding closures.
The devastating impact of the heavy rains is evident in the closure of 736 roads and the disruption of 1,743 transformers and 138 water supply schemes as of Sunday morning. Among the affected national highways are NH-21 Mandi to Kullu, NH-505 Gramphu to Losar, NH-03 Kullu to Manali, NH-305 Aut to Jalori, and NH-707 Rohru to Poanta Sahib near Shillai in Sirmaur district.
Major rivers such as Ravi, Beas, Satluj, Swan, and Chenab are currently in spate. Authorities have advised tourists and commuters to avoid travel during heavy rains and to stay away from river bodies.
The landslides have blocked the Kullu-Manali road at several locations. The Beas River is in spate near Ramshela, leading to traffic halts between Kullu and Manali as well as Manali and the Atal Tunnel. Emergency vehicles are the only ones allowed on the Mandi-Kullu road due to landslides. Residents and tourists have been urged to refrain from venturing out during heavy rains.
Landslides and fallen trees have forced the cancellation of all train services between UNESCO heritage Shimla and Kalka as the railway tracks have been blocked at various points.
A fortunate incident occurred when four tourists narrowly escaped harm as a rock fell on their vehicle near Chadol on the Chandigarh-Manali highway. Local residents came to their rescue, ensuring their safety.
On Saturday night, thirty college students were stranded between Gramphu and Chota Dharra on the Sundo-kaza-Gramphu (National Highway 505) due to landslides and flash floods. However, they were successfully rescued by Lahaul and Spiti authorities.
The region has experienced heavy to extremely heavy rains in the past 24 hours. Notable rainfall amounts include 282.5 mm in Nangal Dam (Bilaspur), 175.4 mm in Dehra Gopipur, 166.2 mm in Una, 146.5 mm in Chamba, 143 mm in Dalhousie, 131.2 mm in Nahan and Manali, 130 mm in Bilaspur, 126.4 mm in Dharamsala, 112 mm in Gondla, 108 mm in Kangra, 107 mm in Solan, 103 mm in Jubbarhatti, 101 mm in Bhuntar, 94 mm in Palampur, 88 mm in Narkanda, 83 mm in Sundernagar, 80 mm in Mandi, 79.4 mm in Shimla, and 70 mm in Mashobra.
The local meteorological office has issued warnings of a high risk of flash floods in several watersheds in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Shimla, Sirmaur, and Mandi districts.
