Shimla, Aug. 31 — Torrential rains have left Himachal Pradesh reeling, with 821 roads — including three national highways — blocked and over 1,200 distribution transformers disrupted, officials said Sunday.
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, traffic movement has been severely hit across the hill state. Chamba has reported the highest number of road closures with 253 blocked, followed by 207 in Mandi — including the Manali–Chandigarh NH-3 — and 176 in Kullu, where NH-305 has been cut off. In Kangra, 61 roads remain closed, while 39 are shut in Shimla, 22 in Una, 18 each in Solan and Sirmaur, 13 in Bilaspur, and 11 in Lahaul-Spiti. One road in Hamirpur has also been rendered impassable. National Highway-5 in Kinnaur is among the major routes affected.
Electricity supply has been disrupted in multiple districts, with 1,236 transformers out of service. Kullu accounts for the highest number at 357, followed by Una with 330, Chamba 296, Mandi 117, Solan 51, Kinnaur 11, Lahaul-Spiti nine, Shimla three and Kangra two.
Water supply schemes have also been crippled. Out of 424 schemes disrupted statewide, Kangra alone has reported 212 failures. Other districts include Chamba with 77, Mandi 56, Kullu 39, Shimla 32, and Solan and Hamirpur with four each.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Chamba, Sirmaur, Solan and Bilaspur, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next few hours. Officials said these districts are “very likely to witness landslides in vulnerable areas as well as waterlogging in low-lying pockets.”
For Shimla and its adjoining regions, an orange alert remains in place, cautioning of heavy rain in isolated locations. The warning extends to other parts of the state as well.
