Uttarakhand Orange Alert Issued for Four Districts Over 90 Roads Blocked
Himachal Pradesh is grappling with the severe impact of monsoon fury, as extensive rainfall has led to the closure of 208 roads, including critical national highways. The state has reported significant infrastructure damage and substantial financial losses, alongside tragic casualties from cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides. This escalating climate challenge highlights urgent needs for resilient infrastructure and adaptive urban strategies to safeguard communities.
Officials confirmed Thursday that heavy precipitation over recent days has severely affected connectivity. The Mandi-Dharampur stretch of National Highway-3, a vital link between Punjab and Ladakh, remains closed. Mandi district, particularly hard-hit by ten cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides between June 30 and July 1 which claimed 15 lives, currently accounts for 134 closed roads. Additionally, 11 transformers and 204 water supply schemes in the district have been severely impacted, disrupting essential services for residents.
Isolated areas in Sirmaur and Bilaspur districts experienced intense rainfall, with Dhaulakuan recording the highest downpour at 168.5 mm since Wednesday evening, followed by Bilaspur with 121 mm. Other parts of the state received low to moderate rains, including Manali (47 mm) and Kasauli (20 mm). The local weather office has issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in several districts from Sunday to Wednesday, alongside warnings of low to moderate flash flood risks in regions such as Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, and Sirmaur.
Since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, Himachal Pradesh has received a 30 per cent excess in rainfall, leading to substantial economic devastation. The state has suffered losses estimated at ₹750 crore from 31 flash floods, 22 cloudbursts, and 17 landslides, which have collectively damaged buildings, agriculture, and forest lands. The human toll remains significant, with a total of 91 fatalities reported – 55 due to rain-related incidents and 36 from road accidents. Officials also confirmed 131 injuries, while 34 individuals remain missing. This relentless series of extreme weather events underscores the increasing vulnerability of Himalayan regions to climate change, necessitating accelerated development of climate-resilient infrastructure and integrated disaster management strategies to protect lives and secure the future of the region’s urban and rural communities.
