Himachal Pradesh issued orange alert for heavy rain and landslides

The Meteorological Centre in Shimla has issued an orange alert for Himachal Pradesh, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall and potential landslides for the coming days. The weather department anticipates unsettled conditions may persist until at least August 14.

Torrential monsoon rains have already caused significant disruption across the state. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, 185 roads have been closed, and various utility services have been impacted, including 77 water supply schemes and 104 transformers. Mandi and Kullu districts have reported the highest number of road blockages.

Infrastructure and connectivity have been heavily affected. The Kiratpur-Manali highway recently experienced a multi-hour closure due to a rockfall near Mehla, and the Bagipul-Jaon road remains closed, cutting off connectivity to three panchayats. Additionally, extreme weather has led to flight cancellations at Kangra Airport.

The ongoing monsoon season has resulted in significant casualties and economic damage. Reports indicate that 65 to 66 people have died in rain-related incidents, including landslides and flash floods, with total estimated losses reaching approximately ₹834–835 crore.