Shimla, Sept 13,
A cloudburst on Saturday morning caused widespread destruction in Gutrahan village of Namhol sub-tehsil, Bilaspur district. Several vehicles were buried under debris while farmlands and roads suffered heavy damage.
According to officials, two vehicles were completely buried and five others damaged before being removed from the site. The Namhol–Dabar road remains blocked due to accumulated debris. Villager Kashmir Singh reported severe losses to his fields. “The water flow diverted towards the road, otherwise the entire village could have faced a major disaster,†he said.
The impact of continuous rains is being felt statewide. In Ghumarwin, the Sir Khad rivulet has swelled to its highest level this monsoon season. Landslides triggered by heavy downpours disrupted traffic on the Bharmour–Pathankot highway near Tunnuhatti, Lahad and Mahla, leaving long queues of stranded vehicles. NH Division Executive Engineer Meet Sharma confirmed that falling trees and debris have slowed vehicle movement considerably.
As of 10 a.m. Saturday, 577 roads, including three national highways, were blocked in Himachal Pradesh. District-wise closures include 174 in Kullu, 166 in Mandi, 48 in Shimla, 45 in Kangra, 44 in Chamba and 28 in Sirmaur. Alongside, 389 electricity transformers and 333 water supply schemes have also been affected.
The Meteorological Centre Shimla has forecast rain across many parts of the state until September 19. A yellow alert has been issued for heavy rain and thunderstorms on September 13 and 14. Palampur recorded the highest rainfall last night at 86 mm, followed by Murari Devi (69.2 mm) and Kangra (58.2 mm).
The monsoon toll in Himachal Pradesh has been grim. Since June 20, the state has recorded 386 deaths, 451 injuries and 41 missing persons. Of the fatalities, 168 occurred in road accidents. Property worth Rs 4,465 crore has been destroyed, with 538 concrete and 834 kutcha houses fully damaged and thousands more partially impacted.
Despite intermittent sunshine in Shimla, the weather department has warned of continued heavy rain in several regions, urging travelers and locals to remain cautious.
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