Himachal reels under heavy rain: Red alert in 10 districts, landslides block roads, train services hit

Himachal rain

Widespread heavy rainfall and landslides across Himachal Pradesh have led to major disruptions in daily life, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for 10 out of the state’s 12 districts.

The affected regions include Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, Una, Kullu and Chamba, where the IMD has warned of intense spells of rain, flash floods, landslides and disruptions to essential services.

According to a report by PTI, the Met office in Shimla has cautioned of possible waterlogging, road blockages, damage to vulnerable infrastructure and major traffic congestion in affected areas. The alert was issued for June 29, with further inclement weather expected to continue through the week. An orange warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated pockets remains in place until July 5.

As per Live Mint, the Shimla-Kalka railway line, a key heritage route, was suspended for several hours on Sunday after boulders and trees fell on the tracks near Koti in Solan district. The first scheduled train was halted at the Koti station, while others were stranded at Gumman and Kalka as restoration efforts began. The National Highway 5 (NH-5), connecting Shimla and Chandigarh, also witnessed a major landslide near Koti, causing a traffic jam stretching two to three kilometres.

Solan Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh confirmed that two-way traffic near Chakki Mod on NH-5 had been restored. However, an alternative route via the Jangeshu road, which was earlier closed due to fallen debris, is still being cleared. Police said that traffic from Kasauli to Chandigarh would be diverted via Jangeshu once it is safe for use.

In the Baddi industrial belt, the situation turned grim with the Bald river swelling dangerously. In Jhadmajri’s Shivalik Nagar area, floodwaters entered over 20 homes, reaching heights of up to four feet. The nearby bridge to the Himuda Complex in the Barotiwala industrial zone was washed away, cutting access to the Mandhala and Bagguwala areas, Live Mint reported.

Additionally, all five spillway gates of the Pandoh dam were opened on Sunday morning for pre-monsoon flushing of the Larji dam. This has significantly raised the water level in the Beas river, increasing the risk of downstream flooding.

Since the monsoon began in the state on June 20, rain-related incidents have claimed 20 lives, with four people reported missing, as per the Himachal Pradesh State Emergency Operation Centre. The rains have also led to the closure of 129 roads across the state and disrupted power supply through 612 transformers.

The highest number of road blockages were reported from Sirmaur and Mandi districts, where 57 and 44 roads, respectively, remain cut off. The IMD has further warned of a moderate to high risk of flash floods in 10 districts, urging residents and authorities to remain alert and take necessary precautions.

Last year, Himachal Pradesh experienced one of the worst monsoon disasters in its history, with over 550 fatalities during July and August 2023.