- Around 75 roads closed, 29 power transformers affected by heavy rain.
- IMD warns of extremely heavy rain, landslides, and flash floods.
- Schools shut in Sirmaur and Solan due to relentless rainfall.
Himachal Monsoon:Heavy monsoon rainfall over the past 36 hours has wreaked havoc across several parts of Himachal Pradesh, triggering landslides, road closures, flooding, and widespread disruption. According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), 75 roads were closed by late Thursday evening due to rain-related incidents. As of July 10, 15 people had died in various rain-related incidents.
At least 29 power distribution transformers (DTRs) were affected, while five water supply schemes were disrupted after fresh spells of rain lashed Shimla and many other parts of the state on Thursday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of extremely heavy to very heavy rainfall, cautioning that it could trigger landslides, flash floods, uprooting of trees, and road blockages, posing a serious threat to life and public safety. Heavy rainfall has also led to the closure of several roads in the Sir Maur district.
Himachal Pradesh weather forecast for today
According to the IMD, Shimla and Sirmaur are likely to receive heavy rainfall on Friday, while Solan is expected to witness moderate to heavy showers. Moderate rainfall has been forecast for Kullu, Mandi, Kinnaur, Hamirpur, and Chamba, while Kangra, Una, and Bilaspur are likely to receive light to moderate rain. Lahaul and Spiti are expected to witness light rainfall.
For Shimla city, the IMD said light to moderate rain, accompanied by isolated heavy spells, is very likely to continue over the next few hours before gradually easing.
Flooding and highway disruption reported across state
Heavy rainfall on Thursday morning in Lippa village of Kinnaur district caused debris from the Pejar drain to block the Teti Khad, resulting in flooding that submerged the nearly 100-foot-long iron Bailey bridge connecting Lippa village. The closure of the bridge has disrupted road connectivity in the area.
Floodwaters entered the courtyards of 12 houses near the bridge, affecting 13 families. The local administration shifted the affected families to a nearby gira farm and arranged food and other essential assistance.
Meanwhile, a landslide near Maling Nala blocked the Rampur-Kinnaur National Highway. In Shimla, five vehicles were damaged after a culvert collapsed in the Auckland area.
On Thursday morning, stones rolled down from the hills at several locations between Parwanoo and Kandaghat near Kumarhatti on the Chandigarh-Shimla National Highway, disrupting traffic. In Solan, the vegetable market was inundated following heavy rainfall.
Schools shut in Solan & Sirmaur
In view of the relentless rainfall, all government and private educational institutions, along with Anganwadi centres, will remain closed in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur and Solan districts on Friday, officials said.
The closure of educational institutions was first ordered in the Paonta subdivision late on Thursday. Subsequently, Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) of Nahan, Sangrah, Pachhad, and Rajgarh subdivisions in Sirmaur District also issued separate closure orders early Friday morning.