The monsoon has unleashed severe havoc across Himachal Pradesh, with heavy to extremely heavy rains disrupting normal life, blocking roads, damaging bridges, and causing one death and two injuries. The Shimla Met office has issued a yellow warning for heavy rains in isolated places until July 15, predicting a wet spell through July 16. The forecast warns of possible landslides, flash floods, uprooting of trees, and road blockades in many parts of the state.
Telecom Services Disrupted; Intra-Circle Roaming Activated
Following torrential rains that disrupted telecom services, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) activated the Intra-Circle Roaming (ICR) facility in the districts of Chamba, Kullu, Lahaul Spiti, and the Thunag area of Mandi district. The ICR feature allows mobile phones to connect to another telecom provider's network if the primary carrier's signal is unavailable, ensuring connectivity during emergencies.
Adventure Activities Suspended, Schools Closed
The Tourism Department has temporarily suspended adventure activities like river rafting due to rising water levels in the Beas River. Kullu District Tourism Development Officer Rohit Sharma stated, "A temporary ban has been imposed on river rafting in the Beas River as rivers and streams could surge at any time, which would further increase the water level of the Beas River." Education Minister Rohit Thakur announced that district administrations have been authorized to declare holidays for educational institutions if the situation worsens, with teaching and non-teaching staff also granted holidays alongside students. Earlier, all government and private educational institutions and Anganwadis were shut in Sirmaur and Solan districts due to very heavy rains.
One Killed, Two Injured in Rain-Related Incidents
A 70-year-old man, Shiv Ram, a resident of Buanda village, was killed after being hit by falling boulders onto the Buanda-Chwai road in Anni subdivision of Kullu district. Locals pulled him from the debris and rushed him to Civil Hospital Anni, where doctors declared him dead. In Solan district, two persons were injured when a boulder hit their vehicle, an Innova Crysta carrying five people, on the Gambharpul-Sarli road in Arki area. They have been admitted to a hospital in Kunihar for treatment.
Road Blockades and Landslide Threats
Rockfalls were reported along the Kalka-Shimla National Highway, leading to the closure of one lane between Waknaghat and Kandaghat, and between Dharampur and Chakki Mod. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has restricted traffic to a single lane as a precautionary measure. A landslide threat looms over the main Bailey bridge near Sangla in Kinnaur district; any further damage could cut off the Sangla Valley. Kinnaur Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Sharma confirmed the Sangla bridge is damaged and declared unsafe, diverting traffic via Kamru village and advising against unnecessary travel.
Infrastructure Damage and Evacuations
Heavy rains damaged the spillway channel of the Nanti Khad stream in the reservoir area of the Ganvi-2 Power House in Rampur, Shimla district. Commuters faced inconvenience as 27 link roads were closed for vehicular traffic in Shimla district, according to the district disaster management authority. An uprooted tree blocked a key local road in the Banmore area near Chhota Shimla, restricting access to residential areas including the locality where ministers and legislators reside. Residents urged the Forest Department to expedite removal of remaining dry and hazardous trees. A wall collapse at Vikasnagar in Shimla damaged two parked vehicles. At Brandli village in Rampur tehsil, rain damaged a house's protection wall, while water entered the Industrial Training Institute campus in Sunni, prompting an evacuation exercise.
Rainfall Data and Warnings
According to the weather office, heavy to extremely heavy rain lashed parts of Himachal Pradesh since Thursday evening. Pachhad in Sirmaur district recorded 207 mm of downpour, followed by Solan (185.4 mm), Nahan (158.5 mm), Kasauli (145 mm), and Dharampur (136.8 mm). Moderate to heavy downpour was witnessed in Palampur (109 mm), Kufri (108.5 mm), Shimla (95.8 mm), Mashobra (90 mm), Jubberhatti (89.5 mm), Jot (83 mm), Narkanda (75.5 mm), Dhaulakuan (70 mm), Sainj (69 mm), Poanta Sahib (62.8 mm), Bharwain and Ghaghas (62 mm each), and Shillaroo (60.1 mm). In light of the inclement weather, the Kullu administration has issued an alert urging people to stay away from rivers and streams and to avoid traveling at night.
