Train services were suspended, 1,311 roads, including six highways, were shut, and all schools remained closed on Tuesday due to heavy rains. The weather office has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in some parts of the state on Tuesday, and an orange alert for heavy rain on Wednesday.
Road connectivity has taken a big hit. Out of 1,305 roads closed, 289 are in Mandi, 241 in Shimla, 239 in Chamba, 169 in Kullu, and 127 in Sirmaur. The blocked highways include NH 3 (Mandi–Dharampur), NH 305 (Aut–Sainj), NH 5 (Old Hindustan–Tibet road), NH 21 (Chandigarh–Manali), NH 505 (Khab–Gramphoo), and NH 707 (Hatkoti–Poanta), the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said.
The situation has become worse in remote areas where link roads have remained blocked for several days. Apple growers are unable to send their produce to markets. Train services on the Shimla–Kalka track were cancelled on Monday due to landslips and would remain suspended till September 5, officials said.
In Kullu’s Anni area, a landslide damaged an under-construction house. There was no casualty as the building had already been declared unsafe after the 2023 monsoon disaster and vacated. On Monday, schools and colleges in nine districts were closed under the Disaster Management Act. On Tuesday, all educational institutions remained closed in Shimla, Kangra, Sirmaur, Una, Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Lahaul and Spiti, Solan, and in Kullu’s Banjar, Kullu, and Manali subdivisions.
Officials are working to send home around 5,000 pilgrims stranded in Chamba during the Manimahesh Yatra. Sixteen pilgrims have lost their lives since the yatra began on August 15.
Rainfall has been heavy across the state. Naina Devi received the highest with 198.2 mm since Monday evening. Rohru recorded 80 mm, Jot 61.2 mm, Baggi 58.5 mm, Kukumseri 55.2 mm, Nadaun 53 mm, Olinda 50 mm, Nangal Dam 49.8 mm, Una 49 mm, Bhuntar 47.7 mm, Sarahan 47.5 mm, Banjar 42 mm, and Bilaspur 40.2 mm.
Since the start of the monsoon, 327 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents and road accidents. Forty-one people are still missing, SEOC data showed. Power and water supply have also been badly hit, with 3,263 transformers and 858 water schemes disrupted on Monday.
The state has seen 95 flash floods, 45 cloudbursts, and 115 major landslides since June 20. So far, Himachal has suffered damages worth Rs 3,158 crore this monsoon, according to official estimates.
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