Himachal rain fury: Over 200 roads closed, landslides hit Shimla; wet spell likely till Aug 17

Shimla: Over 200 roads were closed in Himachal Pradesh following torrential rains, and the Shimla Meteorological Office has predicted a wet spell in the state till August 17.

A total of 204 roads were blocked in the state, and 82 water supply schemes and 45 transformers were affected on Tuesday evening, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC).

The MeT has also issued an 'orange alert' for heavy to very heavy rains at isolated places in Sirmaur district on Friday.


One person was killed on the spot while two others sustained injuries when a rock fell from the hillside on their moving car in Bhararighat area of Himachal's Solan district on Tuesday, police said.

In another incident, two parked vehicles near a new bus stand were damaged after debris from a landslide fell on them in Anni area of Kullu district.

Landslides were also witnessed in Shimla city, and some two-wheelers were damaged.

Moderate to heavy rains lashed parts of the state since 4 pm on Monday.

Bajaura received 101.5 mm of rain followed by Bhattiyat 95.2 mm Dharamshala 94.3 mm, Palampur 66.4 mm, Bhuntar 58.6 mm, Kangra 55.4 mm, Jot 51 mm, Jogindernagar 50 mm, Pandoh 43.8 mm, Sujanpur Tira 38.2 mm, Sarahan 37.7 mm, Nagrota Suriyan 37.2 mm, Kotkhai 33.2 mm and Nahan 31.5 mm.

An appreciable drop was witnessed in the maximum temperatures, and Una was hottest during the day with a high of 30.2 degrees Celsius, while there was no major change in the minimum temperatures and Kukumseri was coldest at night with a low of 12.5 degrees Celsius.

All schools, colleges and other educational institutions remained closed in Kullu subdivision of Himachal Pradesh due to heavy rains on Tuesday.

A notification was issued by Kullu Sub-Divisional Magistrate Jaibanti Thakur in the morning, after the weather department warned of heavy to very heavy rains that could potentially cause landslides, road blockades and flash floods.

Since the monsoon began on June 30, 70 people have died in rain-related incidents, including 14 in landslides and one in flash floods, officials said.

The state has suffered losses amounting to Rs 910 crore, they said, adding that the weather department has predicted a wet spell in the state till August 17.