SHIMLA – Continuous heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh has triggered widespread landslides and flash floods, causing severe disruption to normal life. The latest incident, a major landslide near the Pandoh Dam in the Mandi district, has blocked the crucial Chandigarh-Manali National Highway (NH-21), trapping vehicles and personnel. A video of the site, shared by ANI, showed the highway covered in debris and an overturned vehicle, highlighting the dangerous conditions. Police officials are on the scene, and efforts are underway to clear the road.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a “yellow alert” for heavy rainfall in isolated parts of the state over the next four days. This warning comes as the state grapples with the fallout of the ongoing monsoon season, which has already caused extensive damage.
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), a total of 291 roads have been closed across the state due to the heavy rains. The Mandi district is bearing the brunt of the monsoon’s fury, with 171 roads blocked, followed by Kullu with 76. In addition to road closures, 416 power distribution transformers and 219 water supply schemes have been disrupted, leaving many areas without electricity and clean water.
Since the monsoon season began on June 20, Himachal Pradesh has suffered an estimated loss of ₹1,626 crore. The human cost has also been significant, with 95 people dead and 36 still missing in rain-related incidents. Over 1,472 homes have been either fully or partially damaged. Officials have also reported 44 flash floods, 27 cloudbursts, and 40 major landslides during this period.
The IMD’s forecast for northern India indicates that Himachal Pradesh will likely continue to experience isolated heavy rainfall until August 6. Neighboring states such as Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are also expected to receive light to moderate rainfall, with isolated heavy showers in some areas. The weather office has also issued warnings for extremely heavy rainfall in parts of Northeast India, particularly Assam and Meghalaya.