S Gopal Puri
Chamba: After three days of near-total communication blackout, mobile network services of Airtel were finally restored in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh on Thursday (August 28, 2025), bringing much-needed relief to thousands of residents who had been cut off due to incessant rains and landslides.
For the past several days, Chamba had effectively turned into a landlocked district. Heavy rainfall triggered landslides, washed away connecting roads and disrupted telecom infrastructure, leaving people struggling to connect with their families, officials and emergency services.
The absence of mobile connectivity compounded the crisis, especially in interior areas such as Bharmour and Holi, where residents said they felt “completely cut off from the outside world”. The restoration of Airtel’s services has been described as a major relief by both locals and administration.
“Communication is the lifeline during a disaster. With Airtel back, at least we can reach out for help, update our loved ones and coordinate relief,” said Ramesh Thakur, a resident of Chamba town.
District authorities also confirmed that work is underway to restore other networks such as BSNL and Jio, which remain patchy across many villages. Officials said telecom companies are working round-the-clock to repair damaged infrastructure.
“This restoration is temporary in some pockets, but efforts are being made to ensure full connectivity in the coming days,” an officer from the telecom department stated.
The communication outage had also affected relief operations. With no connectivity, it was difficult for administration and rescue teams to gather real-time information from remote areas. Now, with Airtel’s services restored, authorities say relief coordination is expected to improve.
Chamba, often referred to as the “land of Lord Shiva”, has faced one of the worst spells of rain this monsoon. Washed-out roads, swelling rivers and stranded travellers have highlighted both the vulnerability of the district and the urgent need for stronger disaster-preparedness infrastructure.
As networks gradually come back, residents remain hopeful but cautious. “Connectivity gives us hope,” said Meena Devi, a shopkeeper in Bharmour. “Now we just pray that roads also open soon, so life can return to normal.”
