SHIMLA, August 5— Torrential rain in Himachal Pradesh continued to batter the hill state for a second straight day, paralyzing life in Mandi and Kullu districts where key national highways have been blocked by landslides and shooting stones, officials said on Tuesday.
The Chandigarh-Manali national highway has been hit at multiple points, especially along the Mandi-Kullu stretch, which is blocked at 9-Mile, Kainchi Mod, and Jogni Mata Temple. Even the alternate route via Kataula-Kamand has been rendered impassable, police said, halting all vehicular movement on the corridor. “Restoration work is underway, but traffic remains suspended in both directions,” they added.
As of Tuesday evening, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) reported 449 roads and four national highways blocked, including 318 roads in Mandi and 67 in Kullu.
Key national highways shut include:
• NH-154 (Mandi–Jogindernagar) near Mahila Thana
• NH-003 (Mandi–Dharampur via Kotli) at Kainchi Mod
• NH-305 at Jhed (Khanag) in Kullu
• NH-505 in Lahaul-Spiti, closed due to flash floods and landslides
Light vehicles are being cautiously allowed through Kandugad in Kullu.
In Mandi’s Balh sub-division, waterlogging has inundated homes and shops in low-lying areas. The SDMA said that 236 water supply schemes and 113 power distribution transformers are non-functional across affected districts, impacting essential services.
Death Toll and Damage
Mandi district has emerged as the worst-hit, reporting:
• 23 deaths due to rain-related incidents
• 14 fatalities in road accidents
• 167 roads blocked
• 74 damaged water supply schemes
• 91 power transformers down
Kangra district has recorded 24 weather-related deaths and six accident fatalities, while Kullu has reported 10 monsoon-related deaths and eight road fatalities. Chamba and Shimla have also reported multiple casualties and extensive infrastructure damage.
Mandi, Kullu, and Chamba together account for the majority of road blockages and public service breakdowns across the state.
Crops and Public Property
The SDMA said the cumulative damage to public property—including roads, power infrastructure, health facilities, and schools—has exceeded ₹1,71,495 lakh. More than 88,800 hectares of crops, largely agricultural and horticultural, have also been affected.
Rivers and rivulets across Himachal are in spate due to the unrelenting rain.
Weather Forecast
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued heavy rainfall till August 8, issuing an orange alert for very heavy rainfall in Kangra, Una, and Bilaspur on Tuesday.
A yellow alert for heavy rain remains in place for Hamirpur, Mandi, and Sirmaur. On Wednesday, yellow alerts are in place for Una, Bilaspur, and Hamirpur, followed by Shimla and Sirmaur districts on Thursday.
Officials have urged residents to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel in vulnerable areas.
