Torrential rains over the past 48 hours have disrupted normal life across several districts of Himachal Pradesh, causing widespread infrastructure damage and a tragedy. In Shimla district's Rampur region, a sudden flash flood inflicted heavy damage on a local hydro power project. Meanwhile, in Kangra district, a 106-year-old woman lost her life after the roof of her ancestral mud house collapsed due to persistent rainfall. Traffic movement across major transit corridors has also come to a standstill, with key national highways in Kullu and Sirmour districts blocked by landslides and overflowing streams. The meteorological department has predicted continued rainfall activity across the hill state.
Flash Floods Damage Rampur Hydro Project
The situation turned critical in Shimla district's Rampur subdivision on Tuesday evening when a local rivulet flowing through the Kut and Suru Gram Panchayat villages swelled dangerously. Triggered by relentless heavy downpours, the overflowing stream tore through the surrounding area, damaging vital infrastructure. The raging water heavily impacted the pipelines feeding a local hydro power project. Initial reports confirm that the intake structure of the power project was severely damaged, leading to disruptions in operations. Furthermore, a pedestrian footbridge located near Suru village was damaged by the strong current. The sharp rise in water levels and swift currents have raised serious safety concerns for local residents attempting to move around the region.
Tragic House Collapse Claims Elderly Life in Kangra
Rain-induced structural failures resulted in a fatal accident in Kangra district late on Monday night. In Ward Number 2 of Samba Gram Panchayat, a traditional slate-roof mud dwelling collapsed completely. The incident led to the death of 106-year-old Lachi Devi, wife of the late Mangat Ram. According to local officials, Lachi Devi was sleeping alone inside the old mud structure when the roof caved in. She had three sons, one of whom had passed away earlier. Her surviving sons, Chudamani Nag and younger son Raj Kumar Nag, resided in an adjacent concrete house that they had built separately. The sudden tragedy has sent shockwaves of grief through the entire village.
National Highway 305 and Regional Roads Blocked
Heavy precipitation has severed key road links, creating severe travel difficulties for commuters. In the Ani subdivision of Kullu district, heavy rains pushed the Fedal Nallah near Paligaad Kot out of its banks, causing water and debris to overflow onto the roadway. Consequently, the Rampur-Luhri-Aut National Highway 305 (NH-305) was completely shut down to traffic, stranding numerous vehicles along the route. In Sirmour district, heavy boulders slid onto the Nahan-Shri Renuka Ji road near Nehli, forcing a complete closure of the route. Authorities dispatched machinery to clear the rockfall, expecting road restoration by the evening.
Naina Devi Records 186.6 mm Rainfall as Alert Remains Active
Data released by the Meteorological Centre in Shimla highlights heavy precipitation totals recorded over a 12-hour window. Naina Devi in Bilaspur district registered the highest rainfall in the state at 186.6 mm. Other notable measurements included Malraon at 140.0 mm, Kasauli at 102.0 mm, Ghaghas at 99.0 mm, Nagrota Surian at 98.2 mm, Salapar at 81.2 mm, and Kahoo at 77.6 mm. Heavy rains were also recorded across Shimla and Mandi districts. Overcast skies prevailed across the state on Wednesday, with the weather department cautioning residents about potential heavy rain spells later in the day.
