Himachal Pradesh Faces Heavy Monsoon Chaos: Roads Blocked, Power Out, and Water Shortages Hit Hard
Shimla in Himachal Pradesh is battling the fury of relentless monsoon rains, leaving the state in a tough spot. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) shared an update on Saturday, September 13, revealing major disruptions to roads, electricity, and water supply across Himachal Pradesh due to recent downpours and landslides.
By 10:00 am today, heavy rains and landslides in the last 24 hours have blocked 574 roads, knocked out 389 distribution transformers (DTRs), and disrupted 333 water supply schemes. These issues are making daily life a real struggle for residents in this hilly region.
The monsoon season, which kicked off on June 20, has turned tragic too. The total death toll from rain-related disasters and accidents now stands at 386. Out of these, 218 people lost their lives directly from monsoon mishaps like landslides, flash floods, collapsing houses, and drownings. Another 168 deaths happened in road accidents, which surged because of slippery roads and damaged highways in the hills.
Some districts are bearing the brunt of these road blockages. Kullu tops the list with 174 blocked routes, followed closely by Mandi with 166. In Shimla, 48 roads stay closed, Kangra has 45 shut down, Chamba reports 44, and Sirmaur faces 28 disruptions. Even key national highways aren’t spared—stretches of NH-03 (Manali to Keylong), NH-305 (Anni to Jalori), and NH-503A in the Una area are hit, isolating high-altitude valleys and popular tourist spots like Manali.
Power outages are widespread, especially in rural areas. Kullu alone deals with 138 faulty DTRs, Kangra has 176, and Mandi reports 64. This has left many homes in the dark, adding to the monsoon woes in Himachal Pradesh.
Water supply problems are just as severe. Shimla sees 73 schemes out of action, Mandi has 52 affected, and Chamba 21. Families now rely on water tankers to get by, as the rains continue to play havoc.
Teams from the Public Works Department (PWD), Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board, and Jal Shakti Department are working round-the-clock to fix things. But ongoing rains and new landslides keep slowing them down, making restoration a challenging task.
The SDMA is advising everyone to skip unnecessary travel, particularly on risky hill roads where cave-ins and falling boulders pose big dangers. Officials warn that monsoon activity in Himachal Pradesh will likely stay intense until mid-September, so more rain-related disruptions could be on the way.
Stay safe, folks, and keep an eye on local updates as the state tackles this tough monsoon season.
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