Relentless Rain Triggers Chaos in Himachal Pradesh: Landslides, Flash Floods Cut Off Communities
Himachal Pradesh reels under intense monsoon impact, with over 350 roads blocked and power supply hit as more than 1,000 electricity transformers are disrupted.
Triggering widespread landslides and flash floods that have left roads blocked, power supply disrupted, and many communities completely cut off as relentless monsoon rains continue to wreak havoc across Himachal Pradesh.
A fresh landslide on the Atul–Larji–Sainj road has severed access to 15 panchayats in Kullu. Dramatic visuals from the site show clouds of dust and debris as the landslide crashes across the road, with locals watching helplessly and a few vehicles stranded in the chaos.
The Kasol–Kullu road was shut down on Monday morning after heavy rains triggered landslides at several points, washing away entire sections of the route. The ongoing monsoon fury has blocked at least 355 roads across the state, including three national highways. More than 1,000 electricity transformers have been knocked out, further compounding the crisis.
Mandi district has been the worst hit, with 202 roads closed, including National Highway 21. Kullu follows with 64 road blockages, including NH 305. Other affected districts include Sirmaur (28 roads), Kangra (27), Chamba (9), Shimla (8), Una (7), Lahaul-Spiti (6), Kinnaur (2, including NH 5), and Bilaspur and Hamirpur with one road each.
The power situation is dire. Kullu alone has reported 557 disrupted transformers, followed by Mandi with 385 and Lahaul-Spiti with 112. Water supply has also taken a hit — 44 schemes are down in Mandi and 9 in Kullu, according to a PTI report.
Authorities say restoration work is ongoing at full pace, but continuous rain, unstable terrain, and remote locations are making recovery efforts slow and dangerous.
Since June 20, the monsoon season has claimed 261 lives in the state. Of these, 136 deaths were directly linked to weather-related disasters like landslides, flash floods, and house collapses. Another 125 people lost their lives in road accidents caused by slippery roads and poor visibility, according to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).