Uttarakhand Under Red Alert For Heavy Rainfall On Sunday And Monday
Himachal Pradesh’s fragile mountain infrastructure is once again under stress as intense monsoon rains have caused widespread disruption across the region. According to officials, 249 roads have been rendered inaccessible, with Mandi district alone reporting 207 closures due to landslides and rain-induced damage. The monsoon’s onset on June 20 has so far caused infrastructure losses totalling over ₹750 crore, raising fresh concerns about the state’s readiness for climate-resilient development.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall across districts such as Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur, warning of thunderstorms and lightning activity over the coming days. Pandoh received 50 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, while Bilaspur, Mandi, and Gohar each recorded 40 mm—reinforcing the intensity of this season’s precipitation. Authorities expect more isolated heavy downpours and thunder activity to persist through July 13 and 14. One of the most critical impacts has been on the National Highway 3 (Atari–Leh), where the Mandi–Dharampur route via Kotli has been shut to heavy vehicles. Meanwhile, the Mandi–Kullu segment of the Chandigarh–Manali highway was blocked for nearly 10 hours due to a landslide at Kainchi Mor near the Pandoh dam.
Debris clearance took nearly half a day, forcing traffic to divert via Katola–Kamand before resuming as a single-lane route.Beyond road networks, the monsoon has also damaged 463 power transformers and disrupted 781 rural water supply systems. The compounded effect of infrastructural breakdown and inaccessible routes is affecting both mobility and basic services, particularly in hill-bound and rural communities.The IMD has warned of minor landslides and waterlogging in low-lying areas, with the risk of flash flooding rated as low to moderate in Shimla and Sirmaur. However, surface runoff, swollen streams, and inundation in saturated soils remain possible. Travel disruptions are likely to continue, prompting officials to recommend checking route advisories and avoiding vulnerable areas.
Emergency preparedness teams are on high alert across the state, but the repeated destruction highlights systemic gaps in infrastructure resilience. Experts are calling for sustainable land use, reinforced road engineering, and early-warning systems tailored to mountain regions. As climate patterns intensify, the state’s infrastructure and mobility networks face an urgent need for adaptive planning. The coming days are expected to bring more challenges, with continued rain likely. Residents are advised to remain alert and follow official updates to navigate safely through this ongoing crisis.
