CHAMBA, July 21 — A couple died late Sunday night when boulders, dislodged by a landslide, crashed into a house in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district. The victims, who were visiting the woman’s parental home, were asleep at the time of the incident. The impact of the falling debris caused the house to collapse.
A rescue team was immediately rushed to the site by local authorities, though both victims were declared dead on the spot.
The fatal landslide came amid relentless heavy rain pounding Chamba and several other regions of Himachal Pradesh, disrupting normal life and sending rivers and streams into spate. Officials have warned of further danger as unstable terrain continues to pose risk.
The district administration has urged residents to remain indoors and avoid landslide-prone zones. “We appeal to people to avoid unnecessary travel and stay vigilant, especially near vulnerable areas,” said a local official.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated parts of at least seven districts between July 21 and 23, warning of more landslides and flash floods in the days ahead.
As of Monday morning, 142 roads remain closed across the state, including 91 in Mandi district alone. Additionally, 40 water supply schemes and 26 power transformers have been damaged, compounding the crisis in rural and semi-urban areas.
Efforts are underway to restore connectivity and basic services. Authorities continue to monitor weather patterns as emergency teams remain on alert across vulnerable districts.
