Shimla : Torrential monsoon rains have unleashed widespread flooding and landslides across Himachal Pradesh, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for 10 of the state’s 12 districts, including Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, Bilaspur, Solan, Sirmaur, Hamirpur, Una, Kullu, and Chamba. The relentless downpours, which began late Sunday, have caused significant disruptions, with Mandi district bearing the brunt of the devastation.
According to ANI, the Beas River in Mandi has swollen dramatically due to incessant rainfall, flooding nearby areas and submerging a temple. The IMD has warned of continued heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated areas of Kangra, Mandi, Solan, and Sirmaur, with lighter showers expected in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Shimla, Kullu, and Chamba through Monday evening. Sandeep Kumar Sharma, a senior scientist at IMD’s Shimla Centre, noted that Pandoh in Mandi recorded the highest rainfall at 130 mm, followed by Mandi town at 120 mm, Sunni in Shimla at 113 mm, and Palampur at 80 mm.
The heavy rains have triggered landslides, blocked roads, and disrupted essential services. The State Emergency Operation Centre reported 259 road closures, with 129 in Mandi and 92 in Sirmaur, alongside disruptions to 614 transformers and 130 water supply schemes. A five-storey building collapsed in Bhatta Kuffar near Shimla, and a government school in Bilaspur was flooded, forcing the evacuation of over 130 students. In Shimla’s Junga area, a primary school also sustained damage.
The Shimla-Kalka narrow-gauge railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was temporarily suspended due to debris and fallen trees on the tracks. National Highway-5, connecting Shimla to Chandigarh, faced significant traffic jams near Koti due to a landslide. Authorities have advised tourists to stay indoors and urged residents to avoid rivers, streams, and landslide-prone areas due to heightened risks of flash floods and further landslides.
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Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu ordered the closure of schools in Kangra, Mandi, Solan, and Sirmaur on June 30 to ensure student safety. The IMD has forecasted wet conditions across the state until July 5, with a yellow alert issued for heavy rain in Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Kangra, Kullu, and Mandi on July 1, and additional rainfall expected in multiple districts on July 2. Since the monsoon’s onset on June 20, at least 23 fatalities have been reported in rain-related incidents, with three additional deaths confirmed in Una, Bilaspur, and Shimla over the past 24 hours, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre.
The IMD continues to update forecasts via SMS and coordinate with the State Disaster Management Authority to mitigate risks. Residents and travelers are urged to remain vigilant as Himachal Pradesh braces for more monsoon-related challenges in the coming days.