Himachal weather: 496 roads blocked across state as rains continue to wreak havoc, losses mount to Rs 2,000 crore

TNR News Network
SHIMLA: After days of relentless rainfall, Himachal Pradesh saw a slight reprieve on Thursday (August 7, 2025) morning. However, the damage caused by incessant rain continues to disrupt life across the state.
Landslides triggered by heavy rains have led to the closure of hundreds of roads, including three national highways. As of 10 am on Thursday, 496 roads remained blocked, severely impacting connectivity.

Additionally, 1,120 power transformers and 245 water supply schemes were reported disrupted. Mandi district has borne the brunt of the damage, with 277 roads and 265 transformers affected. In Kangra district, 120 drinking water schemes are currently non-operational.

Meanwhile, a major landslide occurred near the Nilkanth Mahadev Temple on the Baruhi-Sohari road in Kangra late Wednesday night following heavy rains. Debris from the hill had completely blocked the road but was later cleared. Baruhi gram panchayat head Jagdish Ram confirmed that the Public Works Department responded promptly after being notified.

Remote villages still without road access, patients carried on palanquins

In Bilaspur district’s Jhanduta sub-division, residents of Tappa Dadhog village continue to suffer due to the absence of motorable roads. With no proper road connectivity, villagers are forced to carry patients in makeshift palanquins through forests and across seasonal streams, especially dangerous during the monsoon. A recent case involved a pregnant woman who had to be carried to the hospital at night on August 1. She was later brought back home in the same manner after delivery on August 6.

199 deaths reported this monsoon season

The Meteorological Department in Shimla has forecast continued rainfall in many parts of the state until August 13. A yellow alert has been issued for heavy rainfall in isolated areas between August 8 and 13. On Wednesday night, several locations recorded significant rainfall: Shri Naina Devi (92.6 mm), Raipur Maidan (81.6 mm), Pachhad (75.1 mm) and Kangra (62.5 mm), among others.

So far this monsoon season, from June 20 to August 6, Himachal Pradesh has recorded 199 fatalities, including 86 due to road accidents. Another 304 people have sustained injuries and 36 are still missing. Flashfloods, cloudbursts and landslides have damaged 2,084 homes and shops, as well as 1,690 cattle sheds. The death toll of livestock stands at 1,570. The estimated loss so far has reached Rs 1,905 crore.