Heavy rainfall once again wreaked havoc across Himachal Pradesh, triggering flash floods, landslides, and widespread destruction. The downpour, which intensified late on Monday night, left parts of Mandi, Shimla, and Kullu districts badly affected. In Mandi, the rain began around 11 pm and worsened by 1 am, forcing residents out of their homes in fear as floodwaters from the overflowing Sauli Khad river rushed into low-lying areas. The Dharampur bus depot was completely submerged, with floodwaters sweeping away several buses, private cars, and two-wheelers parked nearby. Many houses and shops were also inundated, leaving behind piles of debris and mud.
Dharampur Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sanjeev Sood, confirmed that evacuation efforts continued throughout the night, preventing large-scale casualties. He added that while there were no confirmed deaths so far, authorities were verifying reports of a shopkeeper being swept away along with his vehicle. By Tuesday morning, the water level of the river had begun to recede, but the damage to infrastructure and property was already extensive.
In Shimla, a massive landslide struck the Himland area on Tuesday morning, trapping multiple vehicles and blocking a major road. This further disrupted traffic movement, as 493 roads across the state, including three national highways, remained closed due to the ongoing weather crisis. The landslides and road blockages have left many towns and villages cut off, complicating relief and rescue operations.
Authorities in Kullu district have also suspended all adventure activities such as river rafting and paragliding until September 30. Popular activity sites in Dobhi and surrounding areas suffered heavy damage, making them unsafe for operations. Officials warned that further rainfall could worsen conditions, urging residents and tourists to exercise caution.
The devastation highlights the toll of this year’s monsoon season, which has been unusually intense. Since June 20, a total of 409 people have lost their lives in Himachal Pradesh due to rain-related incidents and road accidents, with 41 individuals still missing. Among the fatalities, 180 were caused by accidents on the state’s rain-damaged roads. According to official estimates, the state has already incurred losses of over ₹4,500 crore.
The Meteorological Department reported that Himachal has received 991.1 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 15, far above the normal average of 689.6 mm for the same period — a staggering 44 percent excess. This excessive rainfall has not only battered infrastructure but has also left local communities struggling to recover from repeated floods and landslides. For now, authorities remain on high alert, closely monitoring the weather as recovery efforts continue across the affected districts.
