Over 250 roads closed in Himachal Pradesh as rains wreak havoc in hill state

Heavy rains battered Himachal Pradesh on Monday leading to building collapses, landslides, flash floods and road blockades in several areas.

The number of deaths in rain-related incidents in the state since the onset of the monsoon on June 20 rose to 23.

The state emergency operation centre has informed that as many as 259 roads—including 129 in Mandi and 92 in Sirmaur district—have been closed due to cloudbursts and landslides.

The downpour has disrupted 614 transformers and 130 water supply schemes.

Officials said the hill state received an average of 135 mm of rain in June against the normal of 101 mm (an excess of 34%).

Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi chaired a high-level meeting on Monday to review the monsoon preparedness.  The minister urged tourists and residents to follow weather advisories and avoid venturing near rivers and streams.

He also directed sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) across the state to remain vigilant. 

Visuals shared on social media showed a five-storey building collapsing like cards at Mathu Colony. There were no casualties as the district administration had already evacuated the inmates, sensing grave risks.

However, two adjoining buildings were also endangered in the incident.

Ranjana Verma, the owner of the building, alleged that a four-lane road construction had endangered the structure but no measures were taken to ensure its safety.

Traffic was disrupted on the Shimla-Chandigarh national highway after shooting stones rolled down in at least five places on the four-lane road.

The weather department on Monday evening cautioned of moderate flash-flood risk in parts of Kangra, Mandi and Sirmaur districts in the next 24 hours.

It has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rains in parts of Himachal Pradesh for Wednesday and predicted a wet spell in the hill state till July 6.

India