Himachal Pradesh's Incessant Monsoon Mayhem: A Tale of Devastating Deluge

Himachal Pradesh continues to reel under intense monsoon conditions as one national highway and 316 roads remain closed due to unrelenting rainfalls. On Monday, Shimla was enveloped in a dense fog that severely reduced visibility, while the local meteorological department announced an Orange warning for three to five districts.

The weather alert covers Kangra, Mandi, and Sirmaur districts for the coming days. By Thursday, districts like Kullu and Shimla are expected to experience similar conditions. Ghaghas village in Bilaspur recorded 61 mm of rain overnight, amplifying an already severe season that has seen substantial rainfall and numerous casualties.

Heavy rains have resulted in the closure of the Aut-Sainj road, part of NH-305, along with 181 roads in Mandi and 85 in Kullu. The State Emergency Operation Centre has reported 119 deaths and 36 missing individuals. With power transformers damaged and water schemes disrupted, financial losses total Rs 2,007 crore since June 20.

(With inputs from agencies.)