The southwest monsoon has started showing its impact across Himachal Pradesh. A flash flood triggered by heavy overnight rain near Choling in Kinnaur blocked National Highway-5, leaving several vehicles stranded on the route. The highway, which serves as the main road link to the tribal district, remained closed after water, mud and rocks covered the road. However, after remaining blocked since Thursday night, the highway was reopened for vehicular traffic on Friday morning after authorities cleared the accumulated muck and debris. No casualties or injuries have been reported.
Officials said the flash flood swept huge amounts of mud, boulders and debris onto the highway, making it unsafe for traffic. A couple of vehicles were buried under the debris after the road was blocked, though all occupants were safe and no loss of life was reported. Heavy rain also triggered panic in Ribba village during the early hours of Friday.
The district administration rushed heavy machinery to the spot to remove the debris and restore traffic. Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner Dr Amit Kumar Sharma said teams worked on priority to clear the road near Choling and rescue the stranded vehicles.
Following the clearance operation, vehicular movement on National Highway-5 resumed on Friday morning. Officials said they continue to monitor the situation closely.
National Highway-5 is a key road connecting Kinnaur with Shimla and the rest of Himachal Pradesh. Any disruption on this route affects residents, tourists and the movement of essential supplies. The administration has advised people to avoid unnecessary travel in hilly areas and check traffic updates before starting their journey.
Heavy rains continue to affect several parts of the state. The weather-related death toll in Himachal Pradesh has risen to nine, while road connectivity, power supply and drinking water services have been disrupted in many districts. As per the latest State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) report, damage to public infrastructure has been estimated at around Rs 69.65 lakh.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall at isolated places in Kangra and Mandi districts on Friday. A yellow alert has also been issued for Kullu, Shimla, Sirmaur and Una districts, warning of heavy rain at isolated locations.
Also read: Pilots oppose power line through Bir-Billing flight corridor
Follow us
