SHIMLA, July 16 — A massive landslide near Shillai town in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district on Wednesday led to the complete blockage of National Highway (NH) 707 along the Hatkoti–Paonta Sahib stretch, bringing traffic to a halt and disrupting movement in the region, officials said.
The landslide, triggered by continuous rainfall, caused a large section of the hillside to collapse onto the highway. Restoration efforts were launched swiftly, but fresh debris from the unstable slope repeatedly interrupted clearing operations, according to officials at the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC).
“Falling rocks and loosened soil continue to hamper recovery work. Machinery had to be withdrawn temporarily at times due to safety concerns,” an SEOC official said.
The impact of ongoing rainfall has been felt statewide. As of Wednesday, 258 roads remained closed across Himachal Pradesh, with Mandi district worst affected at 140 blocked routes. Sirmaur, where the landslide occurred, reported 55 road closures, followed by Kullu with 35, the SEOC confirmed.
Infrastructure damage was widespread, with 171 water supply schemes and 151 power distribution transformers affected by heavy rains across several districts. Authorities said restoration work is underway but warned of delays in remote and high-altitude areas.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded widespread light to moderate rainfall across the state on Wednesday. Rainfall measured in specific regions included 40 mm in Koti, Jaton Barrage (on the Giri River), and Sarahan. Dadahu received 30 mm, followed by Nahan (21.3 mm), Manali (17 mm), and Narkanda (15 mm).
In light of ongoing weather conditions, the IMD issued an orange alert for July 21 and 22, forecasting heavy to very heavy rain in isolated parts of the state. A yellow warning has also been issued through July 20 for seven of the state’s 12 districts.
Officials have urged residents and travelers to exercise caution, particularly in landslide-prone zones. “We advise the public to avoid non-essential travel and stay updated on weather alerts,” a district administration spokesperson said.
Authorities are coordinating with disaster response teams, public works officials, and utility providers to speed up recovery efforts. However, with unstable terrain and additional rainfall in the forecast, officials acknowledged that conditions may remain volatile in the coming days.
