Shimla, July 21 (UNI) After a lull, heavy monsoon rains have battered several parts of Himachal Pradesh since Sunday night, triggering fresh landslides and flash floods across Mandi and Chamba districts, and forcing authorities to close all educational institutions in Theog and Thunag sub-divisions for public safety.
In Sutanh village of Chadi Panchayat (Chamba district), a massive boulder rolled down a hillside, crushing the house of a local resident, Sanju, resulting in the tragic death of his daughter and son-in-law.
Meanwhile, rain-battered Thunag in Mandi district, which was severely affected by landslides and flash floods on June 30 and July 1, is once again facing extensive damage due to the incessant downpour.
Sub-divisional magistrates of Thunag, Ani, Shillai, Karsog, and Theog issued orders on Monday morning mandating the closure of all government and private schools, ITIs, colleges, and Anganwadi centres in these regions. “This decision has been taken to ensure the safety of students amid hazardous conditions caused by landslides and waterlogged roads,” stated the order issued by Dr Shashank Gupta, SDM Theog.
Fresh landslides have blocked several key routes, including Mandi-Kullu National Highway near 4-mile and 9-mile, where debris continues to fall, disrupting traffic. A vehicle was reported to have been buried under a landslide near Thalot Patrol on the Mandi-OT road.
In Chamba’s Churah region, the Nakrod-Thalli road bridge was washed away, while in Sirmaur, NH-707 at Uttari remains closed due to falling debris.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Solan, Mandi, and Sirmaur districts, while yellow alerts are in effect for Chamba, Kullu, and Shimla districts. The forecast predicts heavy rain at isolated places over the next 72 hours.
On July 22, orange alerts are in place for Sirmaur and Solan, while Una and Bilaspur will face similar warnings on July 23, before the weather is expected to improve from July 24.
Since June 20, the state has reported 125 deaths, 215 injuries, with Mandi, Kullu, and Kangra districts bearing the maximum brunt of 34 flash floods, 22 cloudbursts, and 21 major landslides.
