Severe Monsoon Devastation in Himachal Pradesh Claims Lives and Displaces Residents
Himachal Pradesh Faces Catastrophic Monsoon Impact
The monsoon has unleashed its fury in Himachal Pradesh, with the town of Mandi being the hardest hit. The state has reported a tragic toll of 78 fatalities and numerous injuries due to the severe weather. Additionally, 31 individuals remain unaccounted for following the onset of heavy rains, landslides, and cloudbursts that began on June 20, wreaking havoc on homes, infrastructure, and even a local bank in Thunag. Meanwhile, neighboring Uttarakhand is on high alert due to warnings of potential landslides in four districts.
Death Toll Rises as Rain-Related Incidents Continue
According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), since the monsoon commenced on June 20, at least 78 lives have been lost due to rain-related incidents, with 31 people still missing. Out of these fatalities, 50 were attributed to landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts, while 28 others died in road accidents.
Himachal Pradesh Struggles with Monsoon's Wrath
By July 6, the state had recorded 23 instances of flash floods, 19 cloudbursts, and 16 landslides. The SDMA confirmed that 50 of the 78 deaths were caused by rain-related events such as drowning, electrocution, and lightning strikes. Additionally, 28 fatalities occurred due to road accidents. The authority noted that at least 37 individuals are still missing, and 115 have sustained injuries. They emphasized the challenges in restoring services, stating, "We have arranged for pipes, but accessing them is difficult... We have to go back significantly for permanent restoration. Major projects have taken a severe hit, and finding our transformers and machinery, which have been washed away, is a huge challenge that we are trying to address urgently. I urge people to cooperate with the department and use water from storage or hand pumps, boiling it before consumption."
Continuous Rainfall Disrupts Utilities in Himachal Pradesh
The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) reported that persistent rainfall over the last 24 hours has severely impacted public utilities. A total of 269 roads have been blocked, 285 electricity transformers have been disrupted, and 278 water supply schemes have ceased operations.
Mandi District Faces Major Disruptions
In its daily status report issued on July 6 at 10 AM, the SEOC indicated that Mandi is the most affected district, with heavy rains causing 200 road blockages. The district has also recorded the highest number of damaged transformers (236) and disrupted water schemes (278). Kullu district follows, with 39 roads blocked due to landslides in areas like Banjar and Nirmand. In Chamba, sub-divisions such as Salooni, Dalhousie, and Bharmour have reported 32 blocked roads and 17 damaged transformers.
Infrastructure Damage and Flooding Concerns
The SDMA stated, "The heavy monsoon rains have caused landslides, flooding, and infrastructure damage, disrupting road connectivity and essential services in several districts." Efforts are underway to restore services rapidly, with field teams on alert in severely affected areas like Mandi and Kullu.
Warnings of Further Rain and Travel Advisories
Reports indicate minimal disruption in districts such as Shimla, Solan, and Lahaul and Spiti. However, the SDMA has cautioned that ongoing rainfall could worsen the situation. Authorities have advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel, especially in areas prone to landslides. Restoration efforts are actively being pursued by the Public Works, Electricity, and Water Power departments to repair the damaged infrastructure.
Heavy Rainfall Continues to Affect Daily Life
🌧️ The spell of heavy monsoon rain continues in Himachal Pradesh.
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) July 6, 2025
In the last 24 hrs, Aghar (Hamirpur) recorded the highest rainfall at 110 mm.
Cloudbursts in Mandi and Chamba have disrupted normal life.
⚠️ IMD issues warning for heavy rain & flash floods in 10 districts over… pic.twitter.com/rqA9NaBPio