Heavy rainfall is set to continue across Himachal Pradesh as the State’s Meteorological Department has issued an orange weather warning for Mandi, Kangra, Una, Hamirpur and Bilaspur districts for the next few hours.

A yellow weather warning has also been issued for Shimla, Kullu and Solan districts as well, resulting in heavy spells of rain in isolated areas of these districts.

As many as 1,004 roads, including three National Highways (NH), remain blocked as a result of heavy downpour that continues to wreak havoc across the state.

As per the State Emergency Operation Centre, as many as 227 roads, including NH-3 and NH-305, are blocked in Kullu, 212 in Shimla, 205 in Mandi, 166 in Chamba, 48 in Sirmaur, 41 in Kangra, 32 in Una, 27 in Solan, 21 in Bilaspur, 15, including NH 505, in Lahaul and Spiti, seven in Kinnaur and three in Hamirpur district.

Additionally, about 1,992 distribution transformers, including 867 in Kullu, 454 in Shimla, 308 in Mandi, 168 in Solan, 160 in Chamba, 31 in Sirmaur, three in Kinnaur and one in Lahaul and Spiti district, are also disrupted, leaving many places of the state without electricity.

In a major relief to commuters and residents, the Kiratpur-Manali National Highway was restored to traffic between Mandi and Kullu yesterday after being blocked for four days due to heavy rainfall and subsequent landslides.

The highway, a crucial lifeline for the region, was blocked at multiple locations including Jhalogi, Dwada, Banala, Aut and the surrounding areas since Sunday, stranding over 2,000 vehicles on both sides.

The heavy and incessant rains over Sunday and Monday triggered frequent landslides, dumping massive debris on the highway, which made restoration work difficult.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) faced challenges in clearing the route due to continuous sliding and poor weather conditions.

However, with the weather improving today, the NHAI swiftly mobilised workforce and machinery to clear the debris.

By late afternoon, the highway was partially restored to traffic, allowing stranded vehicles to begin resuming their journey.

Mandi Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma informed The Tribune that more than 1,800 vehicles have been evacuated from the area.

“Efforts are on to evacuate the remaining vehicles, and we hope to clear all vehicles by 8 pm.

At some damaged stretches the road is open for only one-way traffic and police personnel are regulating movement,” she said, adding that she herself monitoring situation on the ground.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Gursimar Singh also visited the affected highway sections and issued necessary instructions to NHAI officials to expedite the restoration process.

The reopening of the highway has brought a sigh of relief, not only to commuters but also to apple growers in Kullu district.

Due to the blockade, harvested apples were stuck in orchards and packing houses, risking spoilage.

Now, with the road open, transportation of the produce to distant markets can resume, saving farmers from potential losses during the peak harvest season.

Authorities have urged travellers to remain cautious while driving through the landslide-prone areas, as some sections of the road are still fragile.

Restoration work is going on and full-scale two-way traffic is expected to resume once all affected stretches are stabilised.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today stated that no special relief package has been allocated for the recent disaster, and all rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts are being carried out within limited resources.

Speaking to media personnel at Bhuntar Airport during his visit to assess the damage in the district, he urged the BJP national president and the seven BJP MPs from Himachal Pradesh to advocate for a dedicated relief package from the Central Government.

The CM revealed that a Rs 3,000-crore proposal for disaster rehabilitation has been submitted to the World Bank and expressed hope for its prompt approval.

He criticised the Leader of Opposition, alleging that their presence has been confined to social media and political maneuvering rather than contributing meaningfully to relief efforts.

Highlighting the state’s proactive response, Sukhu shared that the government had deployed a Chinook helicopter from the Indian Air Force to rescue over 3,500 tourists stranded during the Manimahesh Yatra in Chamba.

He assured that all remaining stranded individuals would be evacuated by this evening.

Arriving in Kullu aboard a helicopter loaded with relief supplies, the CM emphasised that ration and essential materials are being airlifted to disaster-affected areas that remain cut off.

He later proceeded to Manali in the same helicopter, accompanied by Manali MLA Bhuvneshwar Gaur, Kullu Sadar MLA Sunder Singh Thakur, Deputy Commissioner Torul S Raveesh, and Superintendent of Police Karthikeyan Gokulachandran.

A series of severe rain-related disasters across Himachal Pradesh has left a trail of destruction, claiming nine lives with two others feared buried.

The most devastating incident occurred in Mandi district, where a major landslide struck the Jangambag area of Sundernagar, claiming seven lives, including four members of a family.

Similarly, a massive landslide in Kullu town flattened several houses in the Inner Akhara Bazar area, leaving two men feared trapped beneath the rubble.

In another rain-related incident in Shimla district, two women were killed and 15 injured after a bus was struck by shooting stones on National Highway-5 near Bithal.

In Mandi, the landslide hit two houses, trapping the victims under debris. Locals reported hearing loud rumbling noises just before the hillside gave way, engulfing the houses at its base. Panic ensued as terrified people rushed out of their homes.

Mandi SP Sakshi Verma said, “A massive rescue operation was launched immediately after the incident. It continued throughout the night and ended this morning.

Despite challenging conditions, three bodies were recovered last evening, three more by late night and one this morning.”

The victims have been identified as Gurpreet Singh (35), his daughter Kirat (3), wife Bharti (30), Shanti Devi (70), Surender Kaur (56), Om Prakash (64) and Rahul (25), all residents of Mandi district.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and local police rushed to the site.

Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan, Additional District Magistrate Madan Kumar and Sundernagar SDM Amar Negi too were present at the site to oversee the night-long operation. As a precaution, the administration vacated nearby houses.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut and Sundernagar MLA Rakesh Jamwal expressed condolences.

The tragedy has intensified concern over the increasing frequency of landslides in the district, particularly during monsoon.

Experts and residents are calling for urgent action, including stricter land-use regulations, better drainage and enhanced early-warning systems to mitigate risks in vulnerable areas.

Negi said every possible help would be provided to the affected families and compensation would be given as per the relief manual.

The incident comes amid a series of weather-related disasters in the state, prompting calls for a comprehensive review of disaster preparedness and sustainable development planning in hilly regions.

The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has been forced to continue releasing water from the Pong Dam due to the rising water level, which has been above the danger mark for four consecutive days.

As of Wednesday, the reservoir level reached 1,394.15 feet, nearly four feet above the danger mark of 1,390 feet, marking the highest level this season.

According to BBMB officials, the water inflow into the Pong Dam was measured at 1,55,261 cusecs at 1 pm on Wednesday.

To regulate the storage, engineers operated six power-generating units, releasing 16,988 cusecs through turbines, and opened the spillway gates to discharge 62,949 cusecs. The combined outflow stood at 79,937 cusecs, significantly lower than the incoming water.

Water Inflow: 1,55,261 cusecs

Water Release through Turbines: 16,988 cusecs

Water Release through Spillway Gates: 62,949 cusecs

Combined Outflow: 79,937 cusecs

At MHC (Mukerian Hydel Channel), the discharge was recorded at 11,500 cusecs, while further downstream at Shahnehar Barrage, flows touched 68,437 cusecs, indicating heavy water movement towards the Punjab plains.

On Tuesday, the outflow/release of water was recorded at 78,891 cusecs, on Monday it was 1,09,920 cusecs and on Sunday also it was 1,09,920 cusecs.

The rising water level has raised concerns for low-lying areas in Indora and Fatehpur sub-divisions of Kangra district and adjoining districts of Punjab.

Farmers along the Beas belt are particularly vulnerable, with reports of standing paddy fields already under stress due to floods.

Meanwhile, the BBMB has been carefully balancing the inflow and outflow of water to prevent a sudden surge downstream.

However, with the water level continuing to rise, the board is being forced to discharge heavy outflows to ensure the safety of the dam.

Continuous heavy rain and fresh snowfall have disrupted normal life in Lahaul and Spiti district, leaving the region cut off from the rest of Himachal Pradesh.

Several key roads have been blocked due to landslides, flash floods and snow accumulation, severely affecting transportation and power supply across the valley.

The district has been witnessing relentless rainfall for the past three days. As a result, temperatures have dipped sharply. Higher reaches have been blanketed in snow.

The strategic Kunzum Pass, located at an altitude of 14,931 feet on the Sumdo-Kaza-Gramphu highway, received fresh snowfall of over 23 cm.

The accumulation has completely halted vehicular movement between Gramphu and Losar, leaving commuters stranded and cutting access to Spiti valley.

Similarly, the Darcha-Shinkula-Padum road remains blocked due to flash floods in the Zanskar valley of Union Territory Ladakh.

The Manali-Leh highway is also closed at multiple points. A flash flood at Pagal Nala damaged a temporary bridge, snapping connectivity. Beyond Darcha, landslides have been reported at various locations, further obstructing the route.

In addition, the Sansari-Killar-Thirot-Tandi road, the lifeline to the remote Pangi region, is impassable beyond Udaipur due to multiple landslides.

With all key roads blocked, Lahaul and Spiti district is effectively isolated. While efforts are being made to restore connectivity, the situation has triggered a crisis for local farmers.

The region’s vegetable growers, particularly those cultivating high-value exotic crops like cauliflower and broccoli, are facing mounting losses.

Ramesh Kumar Rulba, former chairman of Zila Parishad Lahaul and Spiti, expressed deep concern over the plight of farmers.

“Our farmers are in shock. Cauliflower, broccoli, and other vegetables are ready for harvest, but with roads blocked, there is no way to transport the produce to markets. The crops are beginning to rot in the fields,” he said.

He urged the government to take immediate steps to clear roads and explore alternative means, such as airlifting produce, to save farmers from financial ruin.

The Himachal Pradesh government has declared the entire state as disaster-affected due to the extensive damage caused by cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the state has suffered losses worth over Rs 3,056 crore.

The damage has been particularly severe in the infrastructure sector, with roads, bridges, power, and water supply schemes being badly affected. The Manimahesh Yatra has also been impacted, with 16 pilgrims reported dead, and four bodies still stuck in Kugti village in Bharmour.

The Chamba district administration has arranged for 20 porters to carry the corpses out, but the incessant rains are hindering the efforts.

Sukhu said there was no conflict in the figures of the pilgrims who had been safely brought out of Bharmour as even Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri had informed the House that 3,257 pilgrims had been brought from Manimahesh to Bharmour.

“Out of the 15,000 pilgrims stranded in Manimahesh, 10,000 have been safely evacuated and sent home through Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses without any charges,” he said.

Former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar has written to the Prime Minister, requesting a special financial package of Rs 20,000 crore to help the state cope with the disaster.

CM Sukhu expressed gratitude for the letter and hoped that the Centre would take prompt action.

Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur raised concerns about the stranded people in Bharmour, stating that over 500 people are still waiting to be rescued.

He urged the government to restore road, water and power connectivity to facilitate the rescue efforts. Thakur also requested that exams be postponed for students who are stranded and unable to reach their exam centres.

Continuous heavy rainfall over the past few days has brought life to a standstill in Mandi district, severely impacting both transportation and power supply systems.

Authorities remain on high alert as landslides, road blockages and infrastructure damage continue to threaten public safety.

As many as 205 roads remain blocked across Mandi district, paralysing transport services and isolating many areas. The situation worsened on Sunday afternoon when the Kiratpur-Manali National Highway (NH-3) was once again closed to vehicular traffic between Mandi and Kullu due to incidents of shooting stones and landslides on the Pandoh to Aut stretch.

The highway, which had only briefly reopened on August 30 for a few hours, was closed again due to persistent safety concerns.

In a serious incident early this morning, an ambulance skidded off the road near Dwada, reportedly due to slippery conditions caused by falling debris.

One person was injured and was promptly rescued, while vehicle was retrieved by using crane services. Alternative route via Kamand-Kataula, which serves as a backup link between Mandi and Kullu, is open for movement of light vehicles.

Restoration work on the Kiratpur-Manali highway will begin as soon as weather conditions allow. Commuters have been advised to avoid travel in the affected areas.

Meanwhile, Mandi is also facing a major power crisis. According to Executive Engineer of the Mandi Electricity Board, Rajesh Kumar, a key 132 kV double circuit transmission tower near 9 Mile (Pandoh) has been completely damaged due to a landslide, disrupting power to large parts of the district. This line was the main supply source for the 132/66/33/11 kV Bijni substation.

Currently, emergency supply is being provided through Shanan-Bijni 66 kV and 33 kV Ratti-Medical College-Badsu-Bijni lines, but frequent tree falls and landslides near Lavandi Nala are causing repeated disruptions.

Restoration of the 132 kV line is underway on a war footing, but full repair could take up to a week. Consumers in affected areas, including Majhwar, Gohkra, Kotli, Bijni, Kamand, and IIT Kamand, have been urged to use electricity only for essential purposes and remain patient.

As many as 821 roads, including three national highways, remain blocked while at least 1,236 distribution transformers also remain disrupted as a result of torrential rain that continues to wreak havoc across Himachal Pradesh.

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, as many as 253 roads are blocked in Chamba; 207, including the NH 3, in Mandi; 176, including the NH 305, in Kullu; 61 in Kangra; 39 in Shimla; 22 in Una; 18 each in Solan and Sirmaur; 13 in Bilaspur; 11 in Lahaul and Spiti, including the NH 5, are blocked in Kinnaur, and one road in Hamirpur is non-functional, disrupting the traffic movement many parts of the state.

Out of the total 1,236 distribution transformers, as many as 357 are disrupted in Kullu, 330 in Una, 296 in Chamba, 117 in Mandi, 51 in Solan, 11 in Kinnaur, nine in Lahaul and Spiti, three in Shimla and two in Kangra. Additionally, as many as 424 water supply schemes, including 212, in Kangra, 77 in Chamba, 56 in Mandi, 39 in Kullu, 32 in Shimla and four each in Solan and Hamirpur districts also remain disrupted, affecting the water supply in many areas of the state.

Heavy rainfall is very likely to continue across the state for the next few hours as the State’s Meteorological Department has issued a red weather warning for Chamba, Sirmaur, Solan and Bilaspur districts.

As a result, these districts are very likely to witness possible landslides in vulnerable areas as well as waterlogging in low-lying areas.

An orange weather warning has been issued for state capital Shimla, its adjoining areas and the rest of the areas of the state, which means very heavy rains in isolated areas over the next few hours.

In the wake of rumours about a large number of deaths of pilgrims headed for Manimahesh Yatra, the Chamba administration released the list of casualties reported in the district since August 24, when the region was battered by heavy rains.

According to report, 10 persons have died in different incidents, while eight others sustained injuries and four remain missing.

On August 24, Nirmala Devi went missing after being buried under debris in a landslide at Dugi village in Salooni.

The following day, three devotees from Punjab lost their lives due to lack of oxygen. On the same day, Darshana Devi, died after being struck by a shooting stone in Bharmour.

On August 26, the situation worsened across Chamba. Two children were washed away in floodwaters in Rathiara Nallah near Khajjiar, while incidents of shooting stones near Mehla and Kalaal claimed three lives and left several others seriously injured.

The same day in Tissa, Rekha Devi, died in a landslide while two others sustained injuries.

On August 28, Sagar Bhatnagar and Rekha Devi, lost their lives on the Kugti circumambulation route, while in Tissa, two devotees who had set out for Gadassru Mahadev went missing.

In another case, Ankit Mahajan, a 36-year-old resident of Nurpur in Kangra district, also went missing after reaching Manimahesh. His vehicle was found parked near the guest house on August 27 but no contact could be established with him thereafter.

The administration has clarified that the confirmed death toll stands at 10 and not higher as speculated on social media. It further stated that four persons were still missing and eight had been reported injured.

The authorities have urged people not to indulge in speculation and to rely only on official updates for accurate information.

Just a day after the restoration of traffic on the crucial Kiratpur-Manali National Highway (NH-3) between Mandi and Kullu, a massive landslide struck the region again on Saturday morning, blocking the road at Khotinala in Mandi district.

The incident has once again disrupted the movement of vehicles and stranded travellers and transporters on this key highway connecting Himachal Pradesh’s major tourist and business destinations.

According to officials, the landslide occurred in the early hours, bringing down a huge volume of debris and rocks, making the road completely impassable.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which had just reopened the highway yesterday after four days of closure due to previous slides, immediately deployed its workforce and heavy machinery to clear the blockage.

The authorities have stated that the restoration work is underway on a war footing, and the road is expected to reopen within the next one-two hours if weather conditions remain favourable.

The closure of the highway has again caused inconvenience to hundreds of commuters, tourists, and transport operators who rely heavily on this route for movement between Mandi, Kullu, and Manali.

Flash floods hit Mandi’s Katwadhi village
In a separate incident, a flash flood triggered by heavy rainfall created panic at Katwadhi village under the Nandi panchayat of Gohar subdivision in Mandi district on Saturday night around 9:15 pm.

The sudden surge of water in the Naseni Nallah (stream) caused significant damage to local infrastructure, though fortunately, no loss of human life has been reported.

The flash flood, carrying a heavy load of debris and silt, damaged the only local stone-cutting industry in the area and partially affected nearby shops.

A parked car was also swept away by the strong current. The incident left residents in a state of fear and disarray as water levels rose rapidly without warning.

Panchayat Pradhan Fata Ram confirmed the incident and assured that immediate action was being taken.

Local administration teams reached the spot soon after the disaster and initiated relief and assessment operations. Residents have been advised to move to safer locations and remain cautious, especially given the forecast of continued rainfall in the region.

With repeated natural disruptions in the region, the authorities have urged travellers and residents to stay updated through official channels and avoid unnecessary movement in vulnerable areas.

The district administration remains on high alert to respond to any further emergencies.

For the third straight day, Kullu-Manali and Lahaul Valley remained cut off from the rest of Himachal Pradesh as the Kiratpur-Manali and Manali-Leh highways continue to reel under the impact of massive rain-induced destruction.

The widespread damage to these critical highways has brought life to a grinding halt, stranding a large number of tourists and locals, while also delivering a serious blow to the region’s horticulture and agriculture economy.

However, alternative route between Mandi and Kullu via Kamand was restored today for the movement of light vehicles.

According to district officials, cloudbursts and flash floods on Monday caused extensive washouts and landslides on multiple stretches of the Kiratpur-Manali highway, especially between Mandi and Manali.

Several portions of the road have either collapsed or been swept away, leaving behind gaping voids that the NHAI is now struggling to address amid unstable terrain and logistical challenges.

The parallel Manali-Leh highway, a crucial arterial route that connects Himachal Pradesh to Lahaul-Spiti and Ladakh, has suffered major damages beyond Manali, particularly towards Keylong.

The destruction has left stranded a large number of residents, tourists and transporters across Lahaul, Kullu, Manali and Mandi.

Officials estimate that more than 2,000 vehicles remain stuck at various locations due to road blockades. With alternative routes either unsafe or inaccessible, traffic movement has come to a standstill.

The Beas river, swollen due to relentless downpour, further escalated the crisis by damaging houses, shops and bridges in parts of Kullu and Manali earlier this week. Several buildings near the riverbanks are reportedly on the verge of collapse, raising fresh safety concerns as rescue and evacuation efforts continue.

The blockade comes at the peak of the apple and vegetable harvesting season, dealing a blow to local horticulture and agriculture.

With transportation routes severed, apple growers in Kullu and Manali and vegetable growers in Lahaul valley find themselves unable to send produce to markets, facing heavy financial losses.

Because of lack of cold storage and the produce being highly perishable, tonnes of apples and vegetables risk being converted into waste.

Inclement weather is posing a serious challenge to the NHAI in speeding up restoration work because the area is prone to landslide.

Day after tomorrow Kiratpur-Manali highway was restored partially between Mandi and Kullu but blocked soon thereafter due to massive landslide at Banala.

Yesterday the road was cleared at Banala but traffic was blocked between Mandi and Kullu due to massive damage to the highway at Kainchi Mod near Pandoh.

The NHAI and state disaster management teams have ramped up operations to restore connectivity and clear debris.

Machinery and manpower have been deployed at multiple affected points on both highways.

However, officials warn that full restoration may take several more days, especially in the areas where entire stretches of road have been washed away and will require rebuilding from scratch.

Authorities have issued a travel advisory, urging all non-essential travel to Kullu, Manali and Lahaul-Spiti to be deferred until conditions improve.

Relief camps and emergency medical services have been set up at several points to assist stranded individuals and helicopter support is also under consideration if the situation escalates.