Relentless monsoon rain continues to batter Himachal Pradesh as the season's death toll climbs to 179 and the state grapples with widespread damage to life, infrastructure and public services.
According to the state disaster management authority (SDMA), 101 deaths have been directly caused by weather-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods and lightning strikes. The remaining 78 fatalities occurred in road accidents, many of them linked to treacherous weather and damaged roads.
On August 1, it was reported that a sudden flash flood the Kullu district caused a partial breach of the cofferdam at the Malana-I Hydroelectric Project, washing away multiple vehicles and heavy machinery in its path. The incident has raised fresh concerns about infrastructure vulnerability in the face of intense monsoon rains.
According to the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), the breach led to the loss of a hydra crane, a dumper truck, a rock breaker and a camper vehicle. No casualties have been reported so far. The flash flood also swept away a wooden bridge that locals had built after a similar bridge collapsed last year, cutting off Malana village from the rest of the region.
The area around the Malana River, already swollen due to relentless rainfall, saw heavy destruction, including damage to the 109-MW Malana hydroelectric project, further hampering connectivity and access to the region.
Heavy rainfall has blocked hundreds of roads, disrupted electricity and cut off water supplies across the hill state. As of August 2, 383 roads are still blocked, 747 power transformers have failed and 242 water supply systems are non-functional due to rain-related damage.
Among the major disruptions, National Highway-505 in Lahaul and Spiti remains closed due to landslides, causing serious inconvenience to travellers and locals.
The districts of Mandi, Chamba, Kullu, Kangra and Una are among the worst affected, with multiple landslides reported, houses collapsing, bridges being washed away and several fatalities confirmed.
While rescue teams continue their operations on a war footing, officials have warned that ongoing rainfall could further hinder relief work and delay the restoration of key services, especially road connectivity and electricity.
The SDMA has urged citizens to follow local advisories and step out only if absolutely necessary, reminding the public of the continued risk of flash floods and landslides. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of more intense rainfall in the coming days.
People needing help can reach the state emergency operation centre’s 24x7 helpline at 1070 and 1077.
(With inputs from multiple news reports)