Heavy Rainfall Causes Havoc in Himachal Pradesh: 3 Dead, Homes and Vehicles Damaged

In the past 24 hours, the incessant rainfall has wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh. Three fatalities have been reported, and significant damage has been caused to houses and vehicles. The heavy downpour has severely affected people’s lives. Due to landslides, several roads connecting different parts of the state have been closed. The closure of the Chandigarh-Manali Highway at three locations has resulted in a large number of tourists and locals spending the night in their vehicles.

The State Disaster Management Department has issued a report on the rainfall that occurred over the past 24 hours. The report states that three people lost their lives, 13 houses collapsed, 12 vehicles were damaged, and five cow shelters, along with a primary school, were submerged. Additionally, five goats have died, and 16 individuals are reported missing in Solan’s Arki region, where a cloud burst occurred.

In Sujanpur of Hamirpur district, a person drowned after a cloud burst. In Mohal, Kullu, a swollen stream resulted in the washing away of three tractors and five vehicles. In Chamba’s Chuwari area, 40 vehicles are stranded on the road due to landslides, leading to road closures. Furthermore, in Bharmaur of Chamba, a car plunged into a river, prompting the deployment of a 27-member team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for search and rescue operations. Despite extensive search efforts carried out by locals, mountaineers, police, and power project teams throughout the day, no results have been achieved. The search operation will continue on Monday. It should be noted that within the first 72 hours of the monsoon’s onset in Himachal Pradesh, six fatalities have been reported, including drowning, falling from mountains, road accidents, and landslides.

There seems to be no respite from rainfall in the coming days in Himachal Pradesh. According to the Meteorological Department, the state may experience heavy rainfall again. The situation in Mandi district is particularly concerning, as over 300 mm of rainfall has been recorded in the past two days.

The Kullu-Mandi National Highway, near 7 Mile and 9 Mile (Mandi district), and the Kullu-Mandi Road via Katola Marg (Kamand) have been closed due to rockfall from the mountains.  It will take time to clear the roads due to the heavy rainfall. Travelers have been advised to avoid traveling between Kullu and Mandi or vice versa and park their vehicles in safe areas away from potential landslide spots.

Pic, People saving women at Panchkuka stuck inside the car.