SHIMLA, Aug. 27 — Sunshine returned to Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday after several days of rain, but road connectivity across the hill state remained crippled, leaving hundreds of villages and major tourist hubs inaccessible. Officials said at least 700 roads have either been blocked or washed away due to landslides, swollen rivers and overflowing nullahs.
Travel to some of Himachal’s most popular destinations — including Kullu, Manali, Chamba, Lahaul and Spiti, and Kinnaur — remains cut off. The Chandigarh–Manali highway is operational only up to Mandi, with multiple blockages further ahead severing access to Kullu, Manali and Lahaul-Spiti.
In Kangra district, road connectivity to Chamba from Dharamsala remains shut. The Dharamsala–McLeodganj road has been opened partially, but only for light vehicles. The Pathankot–Dharamsala stretch is also facing disruption.
Shimla, however, is accessible. The Chandigarh–Shimla NH-05 is open for traffic, allowing tourists to reach the capital and nearby Kasauli, although occasional one-way restrictions are being enforced at the landslide-prone Chakki Mor. Access to Kinnaur remains blocked at Nigulsari, where the highway has been cut off by heavy debris.
Authorities warned that conditions may worsen as the India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for Himachal Pradesh from August 29 to 31, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts.
With roads snapped, locals have been struggling to access basic supplies, while tourists remain stranded in some cut-off regions. Officials said restoration work is under way but is likely to take time given the scale of damage.
