SHIMLA, August 6 — Torrential rain across Himachal Pradesh since Tuesday night has disrupted life, prompting widespread closure of educational institutions, road blockages, and landslide alerts. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued light to intense rain in multiple districts over the next few hours.
In a weather advisory issued Wednesday morning, the IMD predicted light to moderate rain at most locations, with very intense spells likely in Bilaspur, Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, and Mandi. Additional rainfall is expected in Chamba, Kangra, Hamirpur, Una, Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, and Kullu districts.
Following relentless overnight downpours, authorities in six Shimla subdivisions — Chopal, Kumarsain, Rampur, Sunni, Jubbal, and Theog — ordered the closure of all government and private schools, colleges, ITIs and anganwaris on August 6. In Theog, educational institutions were shut down after heavy rainfall since the previous night, with staff instructed to follow government orders.
In Solan district, Deputy Commissioner Manmohan Sharma also announced a blanket closure of educational institutions as incessant rain paralysed normal life. Particularly affected was Nalagarh sub-division, where a bridge collapse forced the shutdown of the Ramshehar-Nalagarh and Manpura-Davni-Dhella Thana-Dharampur roads. Rising river levels in Baddi and Nalagarh have submerged multiple link roads.
In Kasauli sub-division, 20 roads were rendered inaccessible due to landslides, including:
1. Parwanoo-Kasauli road
2. Patta-Beja road
3. Barotiwala-Mandhala-Gunai Masoolkhana road
4. Chandi-Ghyan road
5. Shardighat-Dhayla road
6. Dharampur-Kasauli road via Pinegrove
7. Sukhi Johri-Kanda road
8. Joharji-Malah road
9. Parwanoo-Gadyar road
10. Bhojnagar-Chakkimour road
11. Jandori-Pratha-Nabhon road
12. Parwanoo-Khadeen Banaser road
13. Shyamaghat-Garkhal road
14. Barotiwala-Gunai road
15. Kheel Ka Mour-Subathu road
16. Lohanji Mari Ka Ghat road
17. Patta-Gharer road
18. Jabli-Gahi road
19. Bhatt Ki Hatti-Rampur-Kuthar road
20. Bhojnagar-Banaser road
Meanwhile, the Chandigarh-Manali national highway remains closed between Mandi and Kullu due to landslides triggered by heavy rainfall.
Officials have urged the public to stay indoors and avoid travel in hilly areas as rescue and road-clearing operations continue. The IMD continues to monitor the situation, with more rain expected in the coming days.
