Shimla: Himachal Pradesh is reeling under the impact of relentless monsoon rains, with over 260 roads blocked, including 176 in the severely hit Mandi district, due to landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts, according to officials on Saturday.
The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) estimates total damage so far at ₹541 crore, though Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu warned that actual losses may exceed ₹700 crore, with damage assessments still ongoing.
📍 Key Updates:
- 🛣️ 260+ roads blocked, with Mandi alone accounting for two-thirds of them.
- ⚡ 300 power transformers and 281 water supply schemes are affected.
- 📉 72 deaths since monsoon onset on June 20, with 45 due to rain-triggered events.
- 🔴 Red Alert for Kangra, Mandi, and Sirmaur on Sunday.
- 🟠 Orange Alert for Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Chamba, Solan, Shimla, and Kullu districts.
- 📍 14 dead and 31 missing in Mandi due to 10 separate disasters on Tuesday.
🌧️ Rainfall Breakdown (since Friday evening):
| Location | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|
| Jogindernagar | 52 |
| Nahan, Palampur | 28.8 |
| Paonta Sahib | 21 |
| Una | 18 |
| Berthin | 17.4 |
| Kangra | 15.6 |
| Naina Devi | 12.6 |
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) defines:
- 🌧️ Very heavy rainfall as 115.6 mm – 204.4 mm in 24 hours.
- ⛈️ Extremely heavy rainfall as over 204.4 mm.
⚠️ Warnings & Advice:
- Landslides, flash floods, waterlogging, and damage to vulnerable infrastructure are expected.
- Residents have been urged to avoid riverbanks, hillsides, and stay indoors where possible.
- The MeT department has issued alerts till Tuesday, forecasting heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in several regions.
🚨 Response & Rescue:
- Multiple search and rescue teams are operating in Mandi and surrounding districts.
- Efforts are ongoing to trace 31 people still missing after cloudbursts and flash floods.
- Restoration work is being hindered by continuous rainfall and blocked access routes.
🧭 Background:
In 2023, Himachal Pradesh saw catastrophic monsoon devastation, which claimed over 550 lives. This year’s early monsoon onset on June 20 has already resulted in deadly weather events across the state, raising concerns of repeat calamity.
With warnings in place for the next 72 hours, the state’s disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience will be under close watch as heavy rains continue to lash vulnerable regions.
📢 Bottom Line:
The people of Himachal Pradesh, especially in Mandi, Kangra, and Sirmaur, are bracing for more challenges as the monsoon intensifies. Authorities urge vigilance as search, rescue, and repair operations scale up under adverse weather conditions.