Shimla, July 29 (UNI) The South-West Monsoon has unleashed fresh havoc across Himachal Pradesh, with relentless rains, flash floods, and landslides plunging the hill state into renewed devastation and trauma.
Torrential rains, flash floods, and landslides have claimed two more lives early today morning, taking the monsoon toll to 164, with 34 still missing. Fourteen more people were buried in debris during the latest spell of rain-induced destruction.
In Mandi district, a cloudburst wreaked havoc late yesterday night near Jail Road. Around 3 am, debris from an overflowing drain entered several houses, trapping 15 residents who were sleeping on the ground floors.
Thanks to timely action by local police and rescue teams, all were safely evacuated by 4 am. However, two people lost their lives in the incident.
The city witnessed further chaos as over 20 vehicles were buried under muck and debris in different localities. The Chandigarh–Manali four-lane highway has been blocked at multiple points—4 Mile, 9 Mile, and Dwada—with the road completely washed away near Dwada.
Landslides have also closed the Mandi–Jogindernagar four-lane near Lawandi Bridge, severely impacting connectivity.
The Suketi ravine, which flows through Mandi city, has breached its banks, flooding adjacent residential areas and adding to the destruction.
In light of continued heavy rainfall, the Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for Mandi, Kullu, and Kangra districts, warning of flash floods, landslides, and waterlogging.
Shimla, too, faces heavy rain warnings, with a yellow alert issued for the next 48 hours. Districts including Chamba, Solan, Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, and Sirmaur remain on alert for isolated spells of intense rainfall.
Although the Western Disturbance affecting the region is expected to weaken slightly from July 30, rain is likely to persist. A yellow alert has been issued for July 31 in Chamba and Sirmaur, and isolated heavy rainfall is forecast in Sirmaur on August 1.
Since the beginning of the monsoon on June 20, public and private properties worth Rs 1,523 crore have been damaged across Himachal Pradesh. Flash floods, landslides, and cloudbursts have accounted for 27 deaths so far.
