INDIA

Floods, landslides wreak havoc in Himachal Pradesh

Thursday, 07 Aug, 2025
Rescue workers at a village hit by a landslide in Himachal Pradesh. (Photo courtesy: X@SukhuSukhvinder)

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh remains severely affected by the ongoing 2025 monsoon, with heavy rainfall triggering widespread damage to life and infrastructure. A total of 309 roads were blocked on August 6 due to landslides and flash floods. Additionally, 236 water supply schemes and 113 distribution transformers were reported to be non-functional, according to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).

The official cumulative report from the State Emergency Operation Centre recorded 184 fatalities so far during the monsoon season from June 20 to August 3, 2025. Of these, 103 deaths were directly attributed to rain-related causes such as landslides (17), flash floods (8), cloudbursts (17), drowning (20), electrocution (7), and other weather-triggered incidents (34). Another 81 people lost their lives in road accidents, mostly due to treacherous conditions on hilly terrain and damaged roads.

District-wise data shows that Mandi has emerged as the worst-hit region, reporting 23 rain-related deaths and 14 fatalities in road accidents. Worst-hit districts also include Kullu, and Chamba, which together account for a major share of road blockages and public service breakdowns.

The SDMA report noted that the cumulative damage to public property, including roads, power lines, water systems, health infrastructure, and schools, exceeds Rs 1,71,495 lakh, with over 88,800 hectares of crops affected, primarily in agriculture and horticulture.

Meanwhile, in response to widespread damage caused by heavy rainfall, the Himachal Pradesh government has declared monsoon holidays across several regions, affecting over 300 educational institutions.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a fresh alert, predicting that monsoon activity will persist across Himachal Pradesh till August 12, driven by the combined influence of an active southwest monsoon and a western disturbance.

The IMD has also warned of flash floods, particularly in parts of Mandi and surrounding areas, due to the combination of heavy rainfall, saturated soil, and increased risk of landslides and waterlogging.

Uttarkashi cloudburst update

Following the cloudburst triggered by flash floods in Uttarkashi's Dharali region in Uttarakhand earlier in the week, 16 persons from Maharashtra's Jalgaon district remain untraceable, according to Jalgaon Collector Ayush Prasad.

The flash floods, triggered by a cloudburst in the hilly region of Dharali in Uttarkashi, caused sudden surges in water levels, damaging infrastructure and disrupting road connectivity in the affected areas.