Shimla, August 25 (HS): Monsoon fury has wreaked havoc across Himachal Pradesh, leaving rivers and streams in spate and triggering multiple landslides that have blocked key roads. Continuous downpours have badly disrupted daily life, prompting authorities to announce suspension of classes in all schools, colleges, and anganwadi centers in eight districts—Kangra, Chamba, Una, Mandi, Kullu, Solan, Bilaspur, and Hamirpur—on Monday. In tribal Lahaul-Spiti district, educational institutions in Lahaul and Udaipur subdivisions have also been ordered shut.
The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in several parts of the state, while the administration has urged residents to stay indoors, avoid landslide-prone stretches, and keep away from swollen rivers and nullahs.
Kangra remains the worst affected district. Indora area is submerged under floodwaters, leaving markets and government offices inundated. Flooded streams have swamped localities in Nurpur and Fatehpur, while the Jasur vegetable market is under water, hitting traders and residents with severe losses. Several houses and shops have been damaged as water entered residential areas. Landslides have blocked multiple roads, including Nurpur Court Road, threatening electricity poles, and the Suliyali-Dunera road, which had to be cleared after heavy mudslides. Residents are facing mounting risks as roads overflow due to lack of proper drainage at four-lane construction sites.
Chamba district is also reeling under devastation. Non-stop rain since Sunday has crippled normal life. The Pathankot-Bharmour National Highway, along with nearly 82 key roads, remains closed to traffic. Around 410 power transformers are down and 40 drinking water schemes disrupted, adding to widespread hardship. A cloudburst in Dalhousie’s Karenlu nullah swept away three vehicles and damaged a community hall. Citing unsafe conditions, the administration has suspended the holy Manimahesh Yatra, with Bharmour ADM Kulbir Rana appealing to pilgrims not to take risks and to stay at safe locations.
According to the State Emergency Operations Center, as many as 303 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents this monsoon season, with 37 still missing. Mandi district alone has recorded 51 casualties, the highest in the state. Relief and rescue efforts are underway across the rain-battered hill state.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
