Munish Sood
MANDI: Relentless monsoon rains have thrown life out of gear across Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, with schools closed, roads blocked and emergency services working round the clock to manage widespread damage.
Continuous downpours since Sunday (August 3, 2025) night have triggered landslides, flash floods and infrastructure collapse in several parts of the district, prompting the administration to issue red alerts in sensitive zones.
As a safety precaution, all government and private schools, colleges, anganwadis and vocational institutions in the Manali and Banjar sub-divisions were ordered shut for the day. The decision was taken amid the growing threat of road blockages and landslides, ensuring the safety of students and staff.
Cofferdam collapse sparks flash flood in Malana
In a major scare, a cofferdam at the Malana-I Hydropower Project collapsed due to heavy water pressure recently, triggering a flash flood that swept away machinery and vehicles. Though no casualties were reported, the visuals of gushing water engulfing the project site sent shockwaves across the valley. The incident has reignited concerns over the structural safety of hydro infrastructure in ecologically sensitive regions like Kullu.
Multiple landslides have been reported across the Sainj Valley. In Duridhar village, 20 residents from 11 houses were evacuated and shifted to a safe shelter after cracks developed on unstable slopes. Relief camps have been set up in the region as a precaution, with food and medical aid being provided by the administration.
Infrastructure crippled, power and water lines down
Road connectivity remains severely affected. Internal roads in rural areas have become impassable, while key national highways, especially the Chandigarh-Manali and Manali-Leh stretches, are frequently disrupted by falling debris and mudslides. Public transport has been suspended in several zones.
Power outages have become widespread due to transformer damage, and over a dozen rural water supply schemes are reported to be non-functional. Restoration teams are struggling to access affected areas amid continued rainfall.
The current spell of monsoon fury has added to an already devastating season for Himachal Pradesh. Since June 20, over 170 persons have lost their lives in weather-related incidents across the state. More than 88,000 hectares of agricultural land has been destroyed. Kullu, Mandi, Shimla and Solan remain among the worst-hit districts.
Kullu Deputy Commissioner leads crisis response
Kullu Deputy Commissioner Torul S Raveesh is personally monitoring the situation from the District Emergency Operations Centre. Under her leadership, disaster response teams, public works officials and local authorities have been mobilised for rescue, relief and restoration efforts. Evacuated families are being provided shelter and medical teams are on standby in flood-prone areas.
The DC has also directed continuous monitoring of river levels and vulnerable hillsides, while coordination with the meteorological department ensures timely dissemination of weather alerts. Citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel and stay indoors, particularly in areas prone to landslides or near overflowing rivers.
