Heavy Rains Batter Himachal Pradesh: Roads Blocked, Yellow Alert Issued

A yellow alert has been issued for heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh, affecting road connectivity and causing infrastructure damage. A cloudburst in the Shimla district led to significant disruptions, while several national highways and multiple roads across various districts remain closed. The wet spell is expected to continue till August 22.

The local Met Office on Friday issued a 'yellow' alert for heavy rain in 10 of Himachal Pradesh's 12 districts till August 20. Showers in parts of the state have already led to the closure of 58 roads.

A cloudburst in the Takloch area of Rampur subdivision of Shimla district late on Friday damaged a 30-metre stretch of road, a senior official said. Fortunately, there are no reports of any casualties, and a team led by the subdivisional magistrate has been dispatched to the site, Deputy Commissioner Shimla Anupam Kashyap reported.

National Highway 5 has been blocked, cutting off Kinnaur district from Shimla after the road near the Negulsari sliding point caved in, officials confirmed.

The state is likely to experience continuous wet spells until August 22, according to the Met Office. It also warned of a low flash-flood risk in parts of Chamba, Kangra, Shimla, and Sirmaur districts till Saturday, cautioning of potential damage to plantations, crops, vulnerable structures, and kutcha houses.

Meanwhile, the National Highway 707 between Hatkoti in Shimla district and Poanta Sahib in Sirmaur district is among the 58 roads closed due to rain on Friday, as per the State Emergency Operation Centre. Nineteen roads are shut in Shimla, 14 in Mandi, 12 in Kangra, eight in Kullu, three in Kinnaur, and one each in Sirmaur and Lahaul & Spiti districts.

The rainfall also disrupted 31 power and four water supply schemes. Since Thursday evening, Dalhousie recorded the highest rainfall at 62 mm, followed by Palampur (56 mm), Kandaghat (36.6 mm), Ghamroor (35.6 mm), Nagrota Suriyan (32 mm), Kangra (28.2 mm), Guler (23.8 mm), and Dharamshala (17.8 mm).

Himachal Pradesh's rainfall deficit this monsoon stood at 23 percent till Friday, with the state receiving 397.9 mm of rain against an average of 513.5 mm. Officials said 120 people have been killed in rain-related incidents, and the state has suffered losses of about Rs 1,129 crore between June 27 and Friday.

Keylong in Lahaul & Spiti district was the coldest place in Himachal Pradesh with a night temperature of 10.7 degrees Celsius, while Una was the hottest, recording a maximum temperature of 36.4 degrees.