Monsoon – Heavy Rain Triggers Landslides and Flood Threat Across Himachal Pradesh
Monsoon –Continuous monsoon showers have caused widespread disruption across Himachal Pradesh, with landslides, flash runoff and flooding damaging homes, vehicles and public infrastructure in several districts. Chamba emerged as one of the worst-affected areas after heavy rain sent mud, rocks and debris rushing into residential neighbourhoods, while authorities also warned of possible water supply interruptions in Shimla. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a flash flood warning for multiple districts over the next 24 hours and urged residents to remain cautious.
Chamba Faces Extensive Damage After Overnight Rain
Large parts of Chamba town witnessed severe destruction as intense rainfall triggered landslides and debris flow across residential localities. Sultanpur ward and the nearby gram panchayats of Sarol, Parel and Tadohli experienced significant damage after torrents carrying stones, mud and boulders entered homes, shops and streets.
Residents woke up to damaged properties, buried vehicles and flooded buildings after the overnight downpour. Daily life was severely affected as people worked to remove accumulated debris and salvage household belongings.
Family Escapes After Hillside Collapse
A major incident was reported from the Obdi locality, where a section of a hillside collapsed during the night. Massive rocks and debris crashed onto a residential building, causing structural damage.
Fortunately, the family living inside managed to leave the house just before the rocks struck, preventing any loss of life. Officials confirmed that no injuries or fatalities were reported in the incident.
Vehicles Buried and Highway Connectivity Affected
The Sarol and Gholti areas recorded heavy destruction, with nearly 15 vehicles, including both small and large ones, getting buried under mud and debris. Several houses and commercial establishments were inundated with rainwater mixed with thick layers of silt.
The campus of Government Degree College in Sultanpur also remained submerged under mud, forcing residents to spend the entire night protecting their property and clearing debris from surrounding areas. Meanwhile, a landslide blocked National Highway 154A, disrupting traffic movement and affecting road connectivity.
Water Supply in Shimla May Remain Disrupted
Apart from rain-related damage, Shimla may experience interruptions in drinking water supply over the coming days. According to Shimla Jal Prabandhan Nigam Limited (SJPNL), a transformer malfunction at Stage II of the Satluj Water Supply Project has affected operations.
The utility also stated that heavy silt accumulation and flooding at other water sources have complicated restoration efforts. Water distribution is expected to remain affected until the damaged transformer is repaired and normal operations resume.
Landslide Slows Traffic on Shimla’s Cart Road
Traffic movement in Shimla was also impacted after a landslide occurred near Rajiv Bhawan on Cart Road. Debris partially covered the roadway, leading to congestion in the area.
Police personnel and district administration officials quickly reached the site, placed barricades around the affected stretch and launched clearance operations to restore smooth traffic flow.
IMD Issues Flash Flood Warning for Seven Districts
The India Meteorological Department has cautioned that a low to moderate risk of flash floods exists across selected watersheds and adjoining regions of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur and Solan districts.
Authorities have advised residents to avoid riverbanks, streams, landslide-prone slopes and other vulnerable locations until weather conditions improve.
Orange and Yellow Alerts Across the State
The IMD has also issued weather alerts for different parts of Himachal Pradesh. An orange alert remains in effect for Shimla, Kangra, Solan, Mandi, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Una, Chamba and Sirmaur, where isolated spells of heavy rainfall are expected.
A yellow alert has been announced for Kullu, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts, indicating the possibility of light to moderate rainfall at isolated locations.
Among the highest rainfall measurements recorded during the latest spell, Jot in Chamba received 137.8 mm of rain. Other notable figures included Naina Devi with 118 mm, Murari Devi with 83 mm, Ghamroor and Shimla with 58.2 mm each, Brahmani with 54.6 mm, Jogindernagar with 52 mm, Malraon with 47 mm, Olinda with 44 mm, Hamirpur with 43 mm and Nagrota Suriyan with 42.2 mm.