Monsoon rain continues to batter Himachal Pradesh, with rivers swelling, hillsides crumbling and repeated cloudburst incidents being reported across the state. With rivers running high and slopes turning unstable, officials are treating the coming days as a critical window for the hill state. The meteorological department has issued a 'red' alert for heavy rainfall, prompting authorities to shut all schools and colleges in Kangra, Mandi and Sirmaur districts on Tuesday. Continuous rain also forced the closure of educational institutions in Theog in Shimla district, Saluni in Chamba, and Nirmand in Kullu. The weather office has warned that heavy rain will persist across several districts of the state until July 27.
Cloudburst Washes Away Six Homes in Sapedi and Garud
On Tuesday, a cloudburst struck the Boh valley under the Shahpur sub-division of Kangra district, triggering widespread destruction. Six houses in the villages of Sapedi and Garud were swept away by the sudden surge of water. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far. However, Lam village remains under threat, and authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation there. The cloudburst also damaged several access roads connecting these villages, making movement difficult for local residents.
National Highway-5 Shut in Kinnaur After Landslide
In Kinnaur district, a landslide forced the closure of the old Hindustan-Tibet road, officially National Highway-5, to all vehicular traffic. The road was blocked after debris slid down a hillside near Shalkhar and rocks fell near Samdo. As a result, traffic between Kaza, Spiti, Pooh and Reckong Peo has been completely disrupted. The prolonged closure of the Hindustan-Tibet road has left tribal belts in the upper reaches particularly isolated, since it is the primary route connecting them to the rest of the district. Several other roads, including Nurpur-Lahru, Chowari-Dalhousie, Shahpur-Sihunta-Chowari and National Highway-154A, also remained closed. In Shimla, intermittent rain continued through Tuesday morning and afternoon, keeping the city on edge.
36 Roads, 43 Water Schemes and Five Transformers Hit
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, 36 roads across Himachal Pradesh were closed following Monday evening's rainfall. In addition, 43 drinking water schemes and five transformers were also affected, which could disrupt water and electricity supply in several areas. With both water supply schemes and power transformers knocked out, several villages could face disruptions to basic services until repair crews are able to reach the affected sites. The administration has appealed to residents to stay away from rivers, streams and landslide-prone zones. People have also been advised to contact the helpline number immediately in case of any emergency.
Officials Urge Caution as Rain Wreaks Havoc in Jammu and Kashmir Too
Authorities have made it clear that people should avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improve, since the risk of landslides and cloudbursts in the hills has not yet passed. Meanwhile, neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir is also grappling with heavy rain, where vehicles were seen being swept away like toys in the fast-moving floodwaters.
