Shimla, September 12 (Patrika English News): Monsoon activity continued in Himachal Pradesh on Friday with intermittent rain and dense fog in Shimla, while landslides disrupted road connectivity across several districts. The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain and thunderstorms in parts of the state till September 14.
According to the State Emergency Operations Centre, as of Friday morning three national highways and 583 roads were blocked. These include NH-03 and NH-305 in Kullu district along with 204 other roads, 156 in Mandi, 57 in Shimla, 44 in Kangra, 35 in Chamba, and NH-503A with 19 more roads in Una.
Heavy rains have also disrupted power and water supply in several areas. A total of 806 electricity transformers and 364 drinking water schemes are non-functional. Kullu alone reported 539 transformers shut down, while Kangra saw 176 water supply schemes affected.
The IMD has issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms and heavy rainfall in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Shimla, and Sirmaur districts on September 12. On September 13, the warning extends to Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur, while September 14 will see alerts in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur. From September 15–18, light to moderate rain is expected, though no alerts have been issued.
This monsoon season has already caused extensive damage in the state. Official data shows 380 deaths, 40 missing, and 447 injured so far, with Mandi district reporting the highest toll at 61.
The rains have destroyed 1,280 houses completely and damaged 5,469 partially, along with 480 shops and 5,762 cowsheds. Livestock losses are also significant, with 1,983 animals and over 26,000 poultry reported dead.
Preliminary estimates place the total damage to public property at ?4,313 crore. The state has recorded 137 landslides, 97 flash floods, and 45 cloudburst incidents this monsoon.