SHIMLA: Midst a red alert issued by the Meteorological Department, heavy rainfall lashed four districts of Himachal Pradesh-Kangra, Mandi, Chamba, and Kullu-on Tuesday. The torrential downpour triggered a devastating cloudburst in the Boh Valley of Kangra district, causing widespread destruction across four villages.
The cloudburst led to flash floods and landslides in the Boh Valley, burying 18 houses under debris across Rulehar, Bangar, Garhgoon, and Spaida villages. A primary school and nine cattle sheds were also washed away or damaged by the slush and mud. While no loss of human life was reported, three women sustained injuries, and nine cattle died in the incident.
Relief and rescue operations were launched promptly, with 15 SDRF personnel and 10 police officials deployed to the spot. Kangra ASP Bir Bahadur stated that debris accumulating at Dibba and Maned nullahs led to the closure of the Boh Valley road.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Dr. Ganesh Thakur confirmed that the affected families have been shifted to a nearby school for temporary shelter. Elsewhere in the district, a landslide altered the course of a local stream in the Niangal Panchayat of Jawali, endangering 10 to 15 homes.
The severe weather disrupted daily life across the state. By Tuesday evening, 150 roads, 291 power transformers, and 91 drinking water supply schemes were non-functional statewide. In Kinnaur district, a cloudburst at Gothang Nullah in Shalkhar on Monday evening flooded two BRO barracks and a store, while covering the Kinnaur-Kaja National Highway with debris. BRO personnel cleared the road using heavy machinery after nearly 20 hours of work.
Air and rail services were also hit. Bad weather forced the cancellation of three flights from Delhi to Kangra. Additionally, a team of specialist doctors from a Delhi hospital, visiting to offer free medical services, remained stranded for 28 hours due to a road block at the Jahalma Nullah. Rail traffic on the Pathankot-Jogindernagar railway track has been temporarily suspended from July 22 to July 23.
In Shimla, light drizzle during the day gave way to heavy downpours lasting over an hour late Tuesday night. The prolonged spell of rain across the state brought down maximum temperatures by 5 to 6 degrees Celsius.
The Weather Office has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in Kangra and Mandi districts on Wednesday, along with a yellow alert for Chamba, Kullu, Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur. Rain activity is expected to persist across the state until July 27.
