Heavy rain has pounded Himachal Pradesh for the past few days. As a result, landslides, road blockages, and power outages have affected normal life across the state. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), therefore, issued a red alert on Tuesday.
Mandi district, in particular, suffered the most damage. Authorities confirmed that 17 people died in rain-related incidents.
According to the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), rain blocked 259 roads and damaged 614 power transformers. Moreover, 130 water supply systems stopped working within the last 24 hours.
An official from the State Emergency Operation Centre told ANI, “The monsoon is intensifying its grip, and the impact is visible across multiple districts. Roads, power lines, and water systems are all severely affected.”
Mandi Faces Severe Damage
Specifically, Mandi reported 139 blocked roads and 314 transformer failures. Most of the damage occurred in Gohar (199), Mandi II (79), and J Nagar (18). Meanwhile, the Beas River is flowing above the danger level.
Furthermore, News18 reported a cloudburst in Kasong, Mandi, that killed one person. In Syanj, a flash flood washed away a house. Seven people went missing. Rescue teams are now working in full force across the hill regions.
Additionally, the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway remains closed to traffic.
Other Districts Also Hit
In Sirmaur, officials said that 92 water supply schemes were disrupted—19 in Nohradhar and 16 in Pachhad. Likewise, Kullu saw 20 blocked roads and 47 water schemes disrupted, especially in Kullu, Largi, and Anni sub-divisions.
Notably, Spiti in Lahaul and Spiti district recorded the highest power disruption, with 139 transformers down.
Government Issues Warning
Consequently, the state government has urged people to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel, especially in hilly or landslide-prone areas.
Earlier, the IMD had issued an orange alert for Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur, and Shimla, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated locations.