Chamba/Mandi/Kullu, September 5: India Air Force (IAF) helicopters on Friday evacuated 524 pilgrims stranded along the Manimahesh route in Himachal Pradesh, officials said. The aircraft also carried three bodies to Chamba.
Since last month’s heavy rainfall, many pilgrims have been trapped in Chamba district, particularly in Bharmaur, where landslides and flash floods have severed road connectivity. “Today, 524 passengers were airlifted from Bharmaur in 12 sorties of Air Force Chinook helicopter. Three mortal remains were also brought from Bharmaur to Chamba,” an official statement said. Since Thursday, a total of 1,166 pilgrims have been evacuated.
The Manimahesh Yatra, which began on August 15, has so far seen 17 deaths, authorities said. The sacred Manimahesh Lake sits at an altitude of 13,000 feet at the foot of the Kailash mountain.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas in Mandi and Kullu on Friday and interacted with families impacted by the deluge. Sukhu said the state has prepared a ₹3,000 crore relief and reconstruction plan and will seek assistance from the World Bank.
During his visit, Sukhu inspected damaged properties at Vashisth Chowk and areas in Manali, including Bahang and Old Manali, as well as the landslide-hit Akhara Bazaar in Kullu, where house collapses had caused fatalities. He also oversaw the evacuation of 14 families from Banali village in Naina Devi constituency after their homes developed cracks following a landslide on Wednesday.
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), 1,091 roads across Himachal are currently closed, including 276 in Mandi, 226 in Kullu, 201 in Shimla, and 166 in Chamba. Major highways affected include NH-3 (Mandi-Dharampur), NH-5 (Old Hindustan-Tibet road), NH-305 (Aut-Sainj), and NH-505 (Khab-Gramphu). Train services on the Shimla-Kalka track were also suspended until Friday due to landslides.
Rainfall data shows Baggi in Mandi district received the highest precipitation of 61.3 mm since Thursday evening, followed by Dhaulakuan (24.5 mm), Karsog (24.2 mm), Buntar (16 mm), and Jot (14.2 mm). The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain in Una and Sirmaur districts on Monday and in Bilaspur, Kangra, and Solan districts on Tuesday.
Since the monsoon began on June 20, Himachal has recorded 95 flash floods, 45 cloudbursts, and 133 major landslides. At least 360 people have died in rain-related incidents and road accidents, with 47 still missing. The monsoon has also disrupted 2,838 power transformers and 509 water supply schemes. Official data estimates total losses of ₹3,979 crore this season.
