Monsoon havoc in Himachal Pradesh has caused widespread destruction and taken 173 lives so far. Heavy and continuous rain has led to damaged roads, broken bridges, power outages, and water supply failures. Several highways are still blocked, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of more rain in the coming days.
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), a total of 383 roads are currently blocked, along with 747 distribution transformers (DTRs) that are out of service, leading to major electricity issues. In addition, 249 water supply schemes have been disrupted, leaving many areas without access to clean water.
The worst-hit areas include Chamba, Kullu, Mandi, and Una, where landslides and flash floods have damaged infrastructure and cut off several interior villages. Local officials say that many remote routes are still unreachable, making it hard for repair and rescue teams to step in.
In the Lahaul-Spiti region, a dam in Mandi collapsed under pressure from the rainfall, raising serious concerns about the state’s infrastructure. The SEOC estimates that total damages have already crossed ₹631 crore this season.
1,142 roads remain shut in total, including three national highways and 11 major district roads. In addition, 34 bridges have been damaged, and multiple link roads are unsafe or broken. Efforts to restore connectivity are ongoing, but progress is slow due to bad weather.
The IMD has issued another warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall in various parts of the state. People have been advised to avoid travel, especially in landslide-prone zones and near riverbanks.
Tourism has also taken a hit, with popular destinations like Manali, Shimla, and Dharamshala seeing fewer visitors. Many tourists are cancelling trips due to safety concerns and poor road conditions.
Emergency teams, including those from the Public Works Department (PWD) and disaster relief agencies, are working around the clock. But landslides, blocked routes, and poor weather continue to slow down relief operations.
The monsoon havoc in Himachal Pradesh has reached a critical point.The IMD’s warning of more rain has put officials on high alert. As landslides and flooding continue to affect the hill state, the focus remains on urgent rescue work and restoring essential services before more damage is done.