Heavy rains batter Himachal: Newlywed couple killed as landslide hits their home in Chamba; schools shut even as 466 roads blocked across state
In Seraj region of Mandi, heavy rain has inflicted worst damage, leaving several people homeless, some missing & others feared dead
PTC Web Desk: Himachal Pradesh is reeling under the impact of heavy monsoon rains that have battered the state since Sunday night, triggering landslides, flash floods, road blockages, and tragic loss of lives. The hilly state remains on high alert. In a heart-wrenching incident, a newlywed couple lost their lives after a massive boulder, dislodged by a landslide, crashed onto their house in Sutah village of Chadi panchayat in Chamba district. The couple had been married just five months. Pallavi, the bride, had returned to her maternal home, and her husband Sunny had come to take her back. They were scheduled to leave for their in-laws’ home on Monday morning when the tragedy struck, reducing their house to rubble.
Due to continuous rainfall and subsequent safety concerns, schools were declared closed on Monday across nine sub-divisions in four districts—Shimla (Theog, Rohru, Chopal, Sunni, and Kumarsain), Mandi (Thunag and Karsog), Kullu (Ani), and Sirmaur (Shillai).
More than 466 roads, including three national highways, have been shut across the state. The Chandigarh-Manali highway remains blocked at 4 Mile and 9 Mile in Mandi district due to landslides. The Shimla-Nalagarh State Highway also remained closed for over three hours, leaving over 300 vehicles stranded. Tourists and locals have been left in distress, with many areas inaccessible due to rising water levels in rivers and streams.
In the Seraj region of Mandi, heavy rain has inflicted the worst damage, leaving several people homeless, some missing, and others feared dead. Continuous downpour has led to flooding of homes and forced people to vacate their villages.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for districts, including Shimla, Sirmaur, Kangra, and Mandi, warning of extremely heavy rainfall. An orange alert has been announced for Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Solan, and other regions, with predictions of intense rain at isolated locations. Yellow alerts remain active in several other districts, including Kullu, Chamba, and Shimla.
For Tuesday (July 22), heavy rain alerts continue for Sirmaur and Solan (orange alert) and Una, Bilaspur, Kullu, Kangra, Mandi, and Shimla (yellow alert). On July 23, orange alerts are in place for Una and Bilaspur, while Hamirpur, Solan, and Mandi will remain under a yellow alert. However, the IMD expects a gradual improvement from July 24 onwards, as the western disturbance weakens.
Despite the forecast for relief, the ground situation remains grim, particularly along the Chandigarh-Manali route, which is only partially open for pedestrian movement even after 24 hours of blockage. Thousands of tourists remain stuck, while local authorities continue evacuation and road-clearing operations.
The authorities have urged residents and tourists to avoid travel, stay alert near rivers and slopes, and closely follow official advisories as rainfall is expected to persist over the next 72 hours.