Key Points

A landslide triggered by heavy rains has blocked the Dharamshala-Kangra National Highway, disrupting traffic near Lower Sakoh. The southwest monsoon arrived in Himachal Pradesh five days early, with IMD predicting intense rainfall over the next week. Scientists confirm the early onset is still within normal parameters despite the unusual timing. Meanwhile, another landslide in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath route has claimed one life amid worsening weather conditions.

Key Points: Landslide Blocks Dharamshala-Kangra Highway as Monsoon Hits Himachal Early

  • Landslide halts traffic on key Dharamshala-Kangra route
  • Southwest monsoon arrives 5 days early in Himachal
  • IMD predicts heavy rains for next 5-7 days
  • Earlier landslide in Uttarakhand kills 1 near Kedarnath
2 min read

Himachal: Landslide obstructs Dharamshala-Kangra NH, traffic movement disrupted

Heavy rains trigger landslide on Dharamshala-Kangra NH, disrupting traffic as IMD confirms early monsoon arrival in Himachal Pradesh.

"This year’s monsoon arrival is a few days earlier, still within normal range – Shobhit Katiyar, IMD Scientist"

Kangra, June 20

Dharamshala-Kangra National Highway has been blocked due to a landslide on Friday morning triggered by intermittent rains that have been lashing the region since last night.

The movement of four-wheelers has come to a complete halt on this road, and people have to opt for alternate routes. This is the main connecting route from Dharamshala to Kangra and the airport, which has been blocked near Lower Sakoh since 8.30 am.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon officially entered Himachal Pradesh on Friday, five days before its normal onset date of June 25. It will grip the entire state by the 25th, so IMD takes it as normal.

With the early arrival, several parts of the state have already witnessed rainfall, and the Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rains across Himachal over the next 5 to 7 days.

Shobhit Katiyar, Senior Scientist at the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Shimla, told ANI:"On June 20, 2025, the southwest monsoon entered Himachal Pradesh. It has already covered districts like Kinnaur, Kullu, Sirmaur, Mandi, Lahaul-Spiti, and Shimla. The remaining districts will be covered by the monsoon in the next 2 to 3 days." He said.

"Usually, the monsoon arrives in Himachal by June 25, and in Shimla city by June 22. This year's arrival is a few days earlier, which is still considered within the normal range," he added.

Earlier, one person was killed and two others sustained injuries after a landslide struck a walkway to Kedarnath near Jangalchatti in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district.

According to a statement from the Rudraprayag Police, the landslide was triggered by continuous heavy rainfall, which caused large amounts of debris and stones to fall onto the trekking route, blocking and damaging the walkway to Kedarnath Dham.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul S.
This happens every monsoon season in Himachal! The government should invest in better slope stabilization measures along these highways. Tourists and locals suffer every year due to these landslides. 😕
P
Priya M.
My family was supposed to travel to Dharamshala today. Now we're stuck in Kangra. The alternate routes are adding 2 extra hours to our journey. Hope the authorities clear the road soon!
A
Amit K.
Climate change is making monsoons more unpredictable. Early arrival, heavy rains - this pattern is becoming common. We need better disaster preparedness in hilly states.
S
Sunita R.
The Kedarnath incident is heartbreaking 💔. Pilgrimage season is on and such accidents create fear among devotees. Uttarakhand and Himachal both need better early warning systems for landslides.
V
Vikram J.
While we blame nature, we must also look at unplanned construction in these areas. Cutting hills without proper planning leads to such disasters. Development should be sustainable!
N
Neha T.
The IMD is doing good work with their predictions. If they say monsoon is within normal range, we should trust them. The real issue is how we handle these situations on ground.

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