Himachal: Death toll climbs to 263, Shimla-Mandi NH cut off
Shimla, Aug 18: The monsoon death toll in Himachal Pradesh has mounted to 263 as torrential rains continue to wreak havoc across the state.
According to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), two fresh fatalities were reported yesterday in separate road mishaps in Chamba and Kangra districts.
Authorities said that nearly 397 roads, including three National Highways (NH-03, NH-05, and NH-305), remain blocked due to landslides, flash floods, and scouring.
The Shimla-Mandi National Highway has been severely damaged between RD 51/000 and 52/000 by the swollen Satluj river, with road width reduced to just 1.5 metres at RD 51/555. The section has been declared unsafe and closed for all vehicular traffic.
The alternative Thali Bridge route has also sustained damage, leaving no detour available under the Sunni Division of HPPWD. The downpour has crippled public utilities as well.
Official data shows 883 power transformers and 122 water supply schemes are currently disrupted across the hill state.
In the education sector, the district administrations have ordered closure of all schools and colleges in Anni subdivision of Kullu and Mandi Sadar subdivision, citing “safety risks from heavy rainfall and landslides”.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported extremely heavy rainfall at some stations, with Dhaulakuan recording 113 mm, followed by Jot (70.8 mm) and Palampur (58.7 mm).
Gusty winds up to 44 km/h were also observed in high-altitude regions. The weather office has forecast more heavy rain at isolated places in the coming days, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning.
The monsoon fury has left behind widespread destruction, with over 2.17 lakh hectares of crops affected, and damages to roads, houses, electricity, and water supply infrastructure pegged at thousands of crores.
Officials have appealed to the public to avoid unnecessary travel, especially along vulnerable stretches of highways and near rivers prone to flash floods.
