Rain Triggers Landslides in Shimla, Cart Road Blocked and Vehicles Damaged
Heavy rainfall continued to impact Shimla on Sunday, triggering multiple landslides across the district and disrupting normal life. One of the city’s busiest roads, Cart Road, was blocked after a landslide near the Lift area, causing traffic disruptions. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported in any of the incidents so far.
The landslide occurred early in the morning when a large amount of debris, along with a tree, came crashing down onto Cart Road near the Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) headquarters. The falling debris completely blocked the road, bringing traffic movement to a halt.
As soon as the incident was reported, teams from the district administration, police and other concerned departments rushed to the spot. Road clearance operations began immediately, with heavy machinery deployed to remove the debris and restore connectivity.
Deputy Commissioner Shimla, Anupam Kashyap, said efforts were underway to reopen the road at the earliest. He also urged residents to follow advisories issued by the Meteorological Department and district administration, especially as rainy weather is expected to continue across the state.
Meanwhile, concerns are growing in other parts of Shimla as persistent rainfall continues to destabilize slopes. In Sanjauli’s Bothwell area, near Government College, a major landslide occurred on Saturday, sending huge quantities of earth and debris downhill and raising concerns for nearby houses. Officials visited the site to assess the damage and monitor the situation.
Another landslide in Rajhana village caused damage to several vehicles parked along the roadside after rocks, boulders and debris tumbled down the hillside. Although no one was injured, many vehicles suffered significant damage. Cleanup and restoration work is currently underway.
The impact of the monsoon has been felt beyond Shimla as well. In Kinnaur district, the bridge connecting Sangla and Chitkul collapsed on Friday night after remaining vulnerable due to continuous rainfall, affecting connectivity in the region.
The Meteorological Centre has warned that rainfall activity is likely to continue over the coming days. A yellow alert has been issued for several districts, including Shimla, Kullu, Chamba, Bilaspur and Sirmaur, with isolated areas expected to receive moderate to heavy rainfall.
Authorities have advised people to avoid landslide-prone locations, riverbanks and other vulnerable areas. Residents have also been cautioned about possible waterlogging, slippery roads, traffic congestion and temporary disruptions to essential services as the monsoon remains active across Himachal Pradesh.
