SHIMLA, July 11: Relentless monsoon showers continued to lash Himachal Pradesh on Friday, severely affecting daily life across several districts, damaging infrastructure, disrupting transport services and claiming at least one life. Authorities remained on high alert as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of more heavy rainfall over the coming days, raising concerns over landslides, flash floods and further damage.
The widespread rainfall affected districts including Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, Kullu, Kinnaur, Mandi, Chamba and Lahaul-Spiti, where roads were blocked, bridges suffered structural damage and several public services were disrupted. The state administration appealed to residents and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel while emergency teams remained on standby.
Weather Department Extends Rain Warning
The Meteorological Centre in Shimla issued a yellow alert for isolated heavy rainfall until July 15, while forecasting wet weather across the state until July 16. Officials cautioned that persistent rainfall could trigger landslides, rockfalls, overflowing streams and road closures in vulnerable hilly regions.
Authorities advised residents living near slopes, rivers and seasonal streams to remain vigilant and closely follow official advisories.
JP Nadda’s Keylong Visit Deferred
The adverse weather also forced the postponement of Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda’s scheduled visit to Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti.
Nadda was expected to lay the foundation stone for the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research, which is set to become India’s first dedicated institute focusing on high-altitude medicine and related public health challenges.
Officials said the event would be rescheduled after weather conditions improve.
One Dead in Kullu Rockfall
Heavy rainfall turned fatal in Kullu district when a massive boulder rolled down a hillside onto the Buanda-Chwai road in the Anni subdivision.
The victim, identified as Shiv Ram, 70, was travelling towards Chwai when the rockfall struck near Ghalad Nala. Local residents rushed to the scene and rescued him from the debris before taking him to Civil Hospital Anni, where doctors declared him dead.
Authorities have urged people to avoid travelling through landslide-prone routes during periods of intense rainfall.
Two Injured in Solan Incident
In another weather-related accident, two people sustained injuries after a large boulder hit their vehicle in the Arki area of Solan district.
Emergency responders shifted both injured persons to a hospital in Kunihar, where they are undergoing treatment. Officials said their condition remains stable.
National Highways Face Disruptions
Continuous rainfall triggered multiple rockfalls along the Kalka-Shimla National Highway, one of the state’s busiest road corridors.
Officials reported major incidents between Waknaghat and Kandaghat, as well as between Dharampur and Chakki Mod. To ensure commuter safety, the National Highways Authority of India restricted vehicle movement to a single lane at vulnerable stretches.
Traffic authorities advised motorists to drive cautiously and avoid unnecessary journeys.
Sangla Bridge Declared Unsafe
Fresh concerns emerged in Kinnaur district after the Bailey Bridge near Sangla suffered structural damage because of rising water levels and continuous rainfall.
Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Sharma confirmed that the bridge had become unsafe for regular traffic. Authorities have diverted vehicles through Kamru village while engineers assess the structure.
Officials warned that any further damage could temporarily isolate Sangla Valley from the rest of the district.
Telecom Connectivity Restored Through Special Arrangement
To minimise communication disruptions caused by damaged telecom infrastructure, the Department of Telecommunications activated the Intra-Circle Roaming (ICR) facility in Chamba, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti and parts of Mandi district.
The emergency arrangement enables mobile users to connect through another telecom operator’s network whenever their primary service provider becomes unavailable, ensuring communication during emergencies.
Adventure Tourism Temporarily Suspended
Authorities also imposed a temporary ban on river rafting activities in the Beas River due to rapidly rising water levels.
District Tourism Development Officer Rohit Sharma said river conditions remain dangerous and could worsen without warning if rainfall continues upstream.
Tourists have been advised to follow official instructions and avoid venturing near rivers or streams.
School Closures Left to Local Administrations
Education Minister Rohit Thakur said district administrations have been authorised to declare holidays whenever weather conditions threaten student safety.
He clarified that both teaching and non-teaching staff would also remain off duty whenever educational institutions are officially closed.
Earlier in the day, all government, private schools and Anganwadi centres in Solan and Sirmaur districts remained closed due to persistent heavy rainfall.
Infrastructure Suffers Heavy Damage
Several public infrastructure projects also suffered extensive damage.
Officials reported that heavy rainfall damaged the spillway channel near the Ganvi-2 Power House reservoir in Rampur, Shimla district.
Meanwhile, a retaining wall collapsed in Shimla’s Vikasnagar locality, damaging two parked vehicles.
An uprooted tree in the Banmore area near Chhota Shimla blocked a major local road, affecting access to several residential colonies, including areas housing ministers and legislators.
Residents urged authorities to remove old and vulnerable trees before additional rain triggers further accidents.
Major Disaster Narrowly Avoided in Shimla
A potentially tragic incident unfolded in Sanjauli, Shimla, when a huge volume of mud, rocks and debris crashed onto a residential building located behind Vishal Mart.
Two family members managed to escape moments before the debris engulfed portions of the house.
The affected family alleged that despite informing the administration immediately after the incident, no rescue or debris-clearing operation had begun until late evening.
Residents also expressed concern that unstable slopes continue to threaten nearby homes.
Road Network Severely Affected
According to the Shimla District Disaster Management Authority, at least 27 link roads remained closed due to landslides, debris accumulation and damaged road surfaces.
Several rural areas experienced temporary isolation as heavy rain made road restoration difficult.
District administrations have deployed machinery to clear debris, although restoration work has been slowed by continuing rainfall.
Highest Rainfall Recorded in Sirmaur
Meteorological data showed exceptionally heavy rainfall across several locations.
Pachhad in Sirmaur district recorded the highest rainfall at 207 millimetres, followed by Solan with 185.4 mm, Nahan with 158.5 mm, Kasauli with 145 mm, and Dharampur with 136.8 mm.
Officials said rainfall intensity remained significantly above normal in many areas.
Public Asked to Remain Alert
District administrations across Himachal Pradesh have appealed to residents to avoid travelling at night, remain away from rivers and seasonal streams, and immediately report any signs of landslides or structural damage.
Disaster response teams continue to monitor vulnerable locations while restoration work is underway in several affected districts.
With additional rainfall forecast over the next week, authorities have urged citizens to stay updated through official weather bulletins and follow all safety advisories to minimise risks during the ongoing monsoon season.