Heavy Rains Ravage Himachal Pradesh: 23 Dead, Roads Blocked, Buildings Collapse

Heavy monsoon rains battered Himachal Pradesh on Monday, causing widespread destruction across the hill state. Since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, 23 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents, according to official figures.

Key Developments

• Massive Disruptions: The State Emergency Operation Centre reported 259 road closures—with 129 in Mandi and 92 in Sirmaur—due to landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts. Additionally, 614 power transformers and 130 water supply schemes were impacted.

• Shimla Building Collapse: A five-storey building collapsed within seconds in Shimla’s Bhatta Kuffar on Monday morning. Thankfully, all residents had been evacuated the previous night. Two nearby buildings are now at risk. The structure’s owner, Ranjana Verma, blamed recent four-lane road construction and lack of safety measures.

• Cloudburst in Mandi: A cloudburst in Mandi district triggered flash floods on Tuesday, leaving several people missing. Rescue operations are underway. Last year, the same panchayat saw 21 fatalities due to a similar event.

• Flash Floods & Landslides: A cloudburst in Sikaseri village washed away livestock and structures but caused no human casualties. Landslides hit Shimla-Chandigarh highway and Subathu-Waknaghat road, leading to traffic snarls and road closures.

• Rainfall Stats: Himachal Pradesh recorded 135 mm of rainfall in June, 34% above the normal of 101 mm—making it the 21st wettest June since 1901.

• Orange Alert Issued: IMD issued an orange alert for Shimla, Mandi, Sirmaur, and Kangra, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall till July 6, with moderate flash flood risk in Kangra, Mandi, and Sirmaur in the next 24 hours.

• Power & School Disruptions: In Bilaspur, flooding affected schools, forcing over 130 students to return home. A primary school in Shimla’s Junga was also damaged.

Government Response

Deputy Commissioner of Solan, Manmohan Sharma, visited landslide-hit Chakki Mor and directed NHAI to ensure 24×7 monitoring and deployment of equipment. The administration has advised the public to avoid unnecessary travel in vulnerable regions and to stay alert to weather advisories.

Outlook

With wet conditions expected to persist until July 6, authorities continue efforts to restore connectivity, power, and water supply while conducting rescue operations in the worst-hit regions like Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, and Kangra.