Heavy monsoon rains destroyed in Himachal Pradesh on Monday, resulting in the collapse of a five-storey building in Shimla’s Bhattakufar locality and claiming the lives of three individuals in rain-related accidents in 24 hours.
Luckily, the Shimla building was evacuated on Sunday evening after cracks appeared on it, presumably because of the construction work for a neighboring four-lane road. A video posted on DD News Himachal features the structure standing for a moment before collapsing entirely amid continuous rain.
“Building cracks emerged because of the construction of a four-lane road close to it,” DD News Himachal added.
A red alert was issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in various regions of the state, including Shimla, and authorities moved into preventive mode.
Monsoon Death Toll Rises: 20 Died Since June 20
The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) reported three new fatalities, bringing the monsoon death toll to 20 since June 20, when the rains started. The deaths are from drowning incidents in Una and Bilaspur, and one who died after falling from a height in Shimla.
शिमला : भट्टाकुफर में भारी बारिश के चलते सुबह 5 मंजिला मकान गिरा – बीती रात ही खाली करवाया गया था मकान – फोरलेन निर्माण के चलते मकान में आई थी दरारें।#Shimla #Bhattakufar #MonsoonAlert #DDNewsHimachal pic.twitter.com/4DKWgErN8J
— DD News Himachal (@DDNewsHimachal) June 30, 2025
Moreover, 129 roads were also closed because of landslides and flash floods. Sirmaur (57 roads) and Mandi (44 roads) saw the maximum damage on roads. Electricity supply has also been affected, with 612 transformers being affected in the state.
Himachal Pradesh had more than 550 fatalities during its worst-ever monsoon season in 2023.
Flash Flood Warnings and Rivers in Spate
The Met office has issued moderate to high flash flood warnings in 10 districts, namely Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, Una, and Chamba. Water levels mounted in the Juni Khad and the Beas River at Mandi.
The operation of all five spillway gates at Pandoh Dam, following flushing at Larji Dam, raised the Beas River’s water level to 44,000 cusecs. This surge forced a complete halt in power generation at the Dehar Power House.
Solan, Baddi Areas Hit
Heavy rains destroyed a bridge on the outskirts of Barotiwala’s Himuda Complex in Solan, isolating Mandhala and Bagguwala. In Baddi, the Bald River inundated Shivalik Nagar, displacing more than 20 homes into four feet of water. Locals attributed this to poor drainage and yearly administrative indecision.
Schools Shut in Red Alert Districts
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu directed the shutdown of all schools in Kangra, Mandi, Solan, and Sirmaur till June 30. Mandi DC Apoorva Devgan announced a holiday for all educational institutions except medical colleges, including IIT Mandi.
Kangra DC Hemraj Bairwa also cancelled classes in all non-residential schools and colleges.
Boulders and trees crashed down on the tracks in Solan’s Koti region, severely damaging the Shimla-Kalka heritage rail track. The morning train halted at Koti station, while others stopped at Gumman and Kalka, disrupting local transport.
