Monsoon disrupts normal life in Himachal; 102 roads shut, power and water supply hit
Shimla, August 1
Heavy monsoon rains continued to disrupt normal life across Himachal Pradesh on Saturday, with 102 roads remaining blocked, 11 power distribution transformers out of service, and 28 water supply schemes affected across the state, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre.
The latest SEOC status report issued at 6:00 PM showed an improvement in the road network compared with earlier in the day, when 128 roads had been reported blocked, as restoration teams worked to clear landslide-hit stretches and restore essential services.
Among the districts, Mandi remained the worst affected with 43 roads closed, followed by Kullu (33), Shimla (11), Chamba (8), Sirmaur (4) and Una (3).
Power supply disruptions were limited to 11 distribution transformers, including five in Shimla, four in Mandi, and two in Chamba, while repair teams continued restoration work.
Drinking water supply was also affected, with 28 water supply schemes remaining non-functional. Chamba accounted for the highest number at 12 schemes, followed by Shimla (9), Sirmaur (6) and Mandi (1).
Officials said all National Highways in the state remained open to traffic, providing relief despite widespread disruptions on several link roads caused by heavy rainfall and landslides.
Authorities have advised commuters to exercise caution while travelling in vulnerable areas as restoration work continues and monsoon conditions persist across the state.
— ANI
Reader Comments
My family is in Kullu and they said the situation is really bad. 33 roads closed is no joke. These monsoon seasons are getting worse every year due to climate change, but we're still building in vulnerable areas without any proper planning. The authorities need to start looking at long-term solutions instead of just clearing landslides every year.
It's concerning that 28 water supply schemes are still down. Water is the most basic necessity and when that's affected, daily life becomes really hard, especially for women in households who have to manage everything. I hope the restoration teams are working round the clock and the state government provides some kind of alternative arrangement in the affected areas. Stay safe everyone in Himachal! ❤️
Every single year, same story. Mandi and Kullu being the worst affected - nobody even talks about how these districts have become so vulnerable because of all the unregulated construction. We need better disaster management planning and proper infrastructure that can withstand these conditions. Also, this is peak tourist season, so I'm sure this is affecting tourism too. Hope the state government takes this more seriously.
I'm planning to visit Himachal next week for a trek. Should I be worried? I know the national highways are open, but what about the link roads to places like Manali and Kasol? Would appreciate some local advice on whether it's safe to travel right now or if I should postpone my trip.
The SEOC is doing a decent job of keeping everyone informed
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