Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, July 21
Heavy monsoon rains have hit Himachal Pradesh once again, bringing daily life to a standstill and leading to red alerts in five districts. Starting late Sunday, the fresh spell of rain has caused landslides, blocked roads, disrupted power lines, and damaged infrastructure across the hilly state. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for five districts—Shimla, Sirmaur, Chamba, Mandi, and Kangra—warning of extremely heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours.
Rain-triggered landslides have already led to the closure of 468 roads, including two national highways. Over 1,200 power transformers have stopped functioning, plunging large swathes of towns and villages into darkness. Additionally, nearly 600 drinking water schemes have been disrupted. Shimla district appears to be the worst-hit, with multiple roads blocked, vehicles buried under debris, and fallen trees snapping power lines and causing traffic snarls. In many sub-divisions, schools were shut on Monday as a precautionary measure.
State Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said the late monsoon surge has caused widespread losses. “The administration has been instructed to remain vigilant. People are being advised to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from rivers and streams,” he said.
Since the beginning of this year’s monsoon season, Himachal Pradesh has recorded 125 deaths, with another 215 people injured and 34 missing. The toll is expected to rise as more reports pour in from remote areas. Government data shows the destruction of 382 homes, 264 shops and 945 cowsheds. An additional 739 houses have sustained partial damage.
In the capital Shimla, a car (HP65-5644) parked near Rajiv Gandhi Degree College in Chaura Maidan was buried under a landslide. Near Sanjauli College, two large trees came crashing down, briefly closing the road and damaging two vehicles. On the Shimla-Chopal highway, landslides have trapped apple-laden trucks and other commercial vehicles. The Tutu–Nalagarh road also remains closed due to fresh slides.
Sandeep Kumar Sharma, a meteorologist at the IMD Shimla, stated that an orange alert has been issued for Monday and Tuesday, with a yellow alert spanning July 23 to 27. “There is a strong likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall in certain parts of the state during this period,” he warned.
With roads blocked and essential services hit, the state’s fragile hill economy, already struggling from previous monsoon damages, is once again under severe stress.
