The picturesque hills of Himachal Pradesh are currently battling the devastating wrath of the monsoon, with incessant and heavy rainfall triggering widespread landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts across the state. The situation remains grim, with official reports confirming at least 37 fatalities and approximately 40 individuals still missing, predominantly in the hardest-hit Mandi district. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an ‘Orange Alert’ for the state, warning of continued heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated areas until at least July 7, indicating that the ordeal for residents is far from over.
The relentless downpour, which intensified over the past few days, has left a trail of destruction, severely impacting infrastructure, homes, and daily life. Mandi district has emerged as the epicentre of the disaster, experiencing multiple cloudbursts and flash floods that have swept away houses, vehicles, and rendered numerous roads impassable. The Thunag subdivision in Mandi is particularly affected, with massive restoration operations underway amidst challenging conditions.
According to the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), the estimated property damage due to the monsoon fury has already exceeded ₹400 crore, a figure that is expected to rise significantly as comprehensive assessments continue. As of the latest reports, over 250 roads across the state remain blocked, more than 500 electricity transformers are non-functional, and approximately 700 drinking water schemes have been disrupted, leading to widespread power outages and water crises in several areas.
Rescue and relief operations are in full swing, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with local administration, police, and Home Guards, tirelessly working to evacuate stranded individuals, recover bodies, and restore essential services. The Indian Air Force has also been pressed into service, air-dropping food packets to cut-off villages. However, the challenging terrain and persistent rainfall are hampering efforts.
Officials have highlighted that besides the direct rain-related deaths, an additional 26 fatalities have been reported due to road accidents during this monsoon period, underscoring the treacherous conditions prevailing across the state’s road network.
The IMD’s ‘Orange Alert’ forecasts continued heavy to very heavy rainfall, particularly in districts like Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur, and Shimla. Residents have been strongly advised to exercise extreme caution, avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from rivers and streams, and strictly adhere to advisories issued by the local authorities. The persistent rainfall is also posing a risk of low to moderate flash floods in parts of Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur, Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur districts in the coming 24 hours.
The Himachal Pradesh government has activated all emergency protocols, establishing a 24×7 control room to monitor the situation and coordinate relief efforts. As the state braces for further downpours, the focus remains on search, rescue, and providing immediate assistance to those affected by this unprecedented monsoon havoc. The long-term recovery and restoration efforts are expected to be substantial, given the scale of the damage across the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.