Himachal Battles Nature’s Fury Amid Monsoon Mayhem, IMD issues yellow alert
As July unfolds, Himachal Pradesh finds itself in the grip of a relentless monsoon. Torrential rains continue to lash the state, triggering landslides, cloudbursts, and widespread destruction—especially in districts like Mandi, Chamba, and Kangra. The damage has been severe, with lives lost, roads washed away, and essential services disrupted.
On Saturday, heavy showers drenched Manali and Shimla, and today, dark clouds still hover over many parts of the state. The impact is staggering: two national highways and over 200 roads are blocked, nearly 75 power transformers are down, and more than 113 drinking water schemes are non-functional. Mandi alone has 130 roads closed, with Seraj region accounting for 81 of them. In Seraj, 54 water schemes remain shut, leaving communities struggling for basic necessities.
Warnings Issued as Rainfall Intensifies
The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for Una, Kangra, and Sirmaur. On July 28, the alert extends to Una, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, and Sirmaur. On July 29, an orange alert has been sounded for Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, and Mandi, warning of extremely heavy rainfall, while other districts remain under yellow alert.
Monsoon Surges Past Normal Levels
This season, Himachal has received significantly more rainfall than usual. Mandi tops the chart with 820.4 mm—63% above normal. Sirmaur follows with 711.7 mm, 30% higher than average. Other districts like Solan, Una, Shimla, Bilaspur, and Hamirpur have also seen above-normal rainfall. However, regions like Chamba, Kinnaur, and Lahaul-Spiti have received less than expected, with Lahaul-Spiti recording just 49.4 mm—the lowest in the state.
A Call for Vigilance and Support
As Himachal braces for more rain, the focus now shifts to recovery and resilience. Experts and citizens alike are urging authorities to ensure timely relief and stronger infrastructure planning. The spirit of the hill state remains unbroken, but the road ahead demands caution, compassion, and collective action.
