Relentless monsoon rains have wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh, with heavy downpours from late Monday night to Tuesday morning causing widespread destruction. In Mandi district’s Nihri area, a landslide claimed three lives, while a cloudburst in Dharmpur submerged the local bus stand, washing away several vehicles. Across the state, 653 roads, including three national highways, remain closed, severely disrupting traffic and connectivity.
Shimla recorded an unprecedented 141 mm of rainfall, far above normal, while Mandi and Kangra districts faced multiple incidents of landslides and flooding. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), Mandi has seen over 150 roads blocked, followed by 90 in Kullu. At Dharmpur bus stand, floodwaters and debris inundated the area, sweeping away HRTC buses and private vehicles. Locals rescued two individuals, but two others remain missing.
In Nihri, a family was hit by a landslide, with three members buried under debris. SDRF and local administration teams have intensified rescue operations. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed officials to monitor the situation closely and announced compensation for affected families.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for September 16, warning of heavy rain, landslides, and flash floods in several districts. This monsoon season (June 1 to September 15), the state has recorded 991.1 mm of rainfall, 44% above average. The disasters have claimed 394 lives, left 41 people missing, and caused damages worth ₹4,504 crore, with the Public Works Department alone reporting losses of ₹2,718 crore.
Power supply and water schemes have also been severely affected, with 159 transformers and 297 water supply systems disrupted. Authorities have advised against unnecessary travel and urged people to avoid landslide-prone areas. The Kullu-Manali and Shimla-Kinnaur routes are among the worst hit.
