Shimla, Aug 4
Relentless monsoon rains continue to wreak havoc across Himachal Pradesh, pushing the season’s death toll to 184 and leaving 36 persons missing, according to the latest cumulative loss report released by the State Emergency Operations Centreon Monday.
Of the total fatalities, 103 deaths have resulted from landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts, while 81 people have lost their lives in rain-related road accidents. The number of missing persons remains unchanged at 36.
The situation remains critical in Kullu district’s Manali sub-division, where authorities declared a holiday for all government and private schools and ITIs on Monday. The decision was prompted by incessant rainfall overnight, which has blocked key roads and significantly raised the Beas River’s water level, prompting urgent precautionary action by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate.
In Shimla, a landslide near Panthaghati around 9 PM on Sunday sent mounds of debris crashing down into nearby shops. No injuries were reported as parked vehicles had been shifted in advance, preventing major losses.
Meanwhile, in Solan district, a trolley transporting apples became stuck on the Chhaila–Maipul–Rajgarh road, effectively blocking the highway for over 12 hours. The incident stranded dozens of vehicles, causing extended delays.
Across the state, a total of 295 roads remain blocked due to rain-related damages over the past four days. Rainfall data from the Meteorological Centre, Shimla, shows that in the last 24 hours, Kasauli received 82 mm, Naina Devi 62.6 mm, and Manali 45 mm of rain.
The India Meteorological Department has issued an Orange Alert for Una, Hamirpur, and Bilaspur, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall that could trigger urban flooding and waterlogging. A Yellow Alert remains active for Kangra, Mandi, Solan, and Sirmaur, with moderate to heavy rainfall expected across several districts through Tuesday.
The deluge has left a trail of destruction across Himachal. Official records indicate that 457 houses have been completely destroyed, while another 1,192 have suffered partial damage. Fortunately, despite increased inflows, dam infrastructure remains stable, with reservoir pond levels across the state’s major dams currently within permissible limits.
The cumulative monetary loss due to the monsoon’s impact has now exceeded Rs 1,714 crore, reflecting the widespread infrastructure and property damage witnessed across the hill state since the onset of the season.
As authorities remain on high alert, further rainfall over the next 48 hours is expected to challenge both response teams and restoration efforts already underway in several districts.
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