Bilaspur: Severe weather continues to batter Himachal Pradesh as a devastating cloudburst struck Gutrahan village in the Namhol sub-tehsil of Bilaspur district early Saturday morning. The sudden downpour led to a massive debris flow, burying several vehicles and causing extensive damage to agricultural fields in the area.
Residents reported widespread destruction, with Kashmir Singh, a farmer in the village, suffering significant crop loss. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported, though the impact on infrastructure and livelihoods has been substantial.
This incident comes amid relentless rainfall that has been lashing the state for two consecutive days, pushing water levels in rivers and streams to seasonal highs. The Sir Khad stream in Ghumarwin has swelled to its highest point this monsoon, raising alarms for nearby settlements.
Highways Blocked, Travel Paralyzed
In addition to Bilaspur, the Bharmour-Pathankot highway has also been severely affected by landslides triggered by the downpour. Overnight slides near Tunnuhatti, Lahad, and Mehla have brought traffic to a standstill. Long lines of vehicles, including trucks and private cars, were seen stranded along the route as fallen trees and rubble obstructed movement.
Meet Sharma, Executive Engineer of the NH Division, confirmed that landslides combined with treefalls have severely hampered restoration efforts. “Continuous rainfall has slowed down our work. Clearing debris while ensuring safety is our top priority,” he said.
Across the state, hundreds of roads remain inaccessible, and several power transformers and water supply schemes are non-operational due to blocked access routes.
Rainfall to Continue; Yellow Alert Issued
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued rainfall across various regions of Himachal Pradesh through September 19. A yellow warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms remains in place for September 13 and 14.
Despite the destruction, Shimla experienced partly sunny skies with intermittent cloud cover, offering a brief respite. However, other districts recorded significant rainfall overnight:
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Palampur: 86.0 mm
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Murari Devi: 69.2 mm
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Kangra: 58.2 mm
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Jogindernagar: 45.0 mm
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Naina Devi: 16.6 mm
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Dharamshala: 14.8 mm
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Mandi: 13.6 mm
Monsoon Toll: Over Rs 4,400 Crore in Damages, Nearly 400 Lives Lost
The toll from this year’s monsoon season continues to mount. Since June 20, Himachal Pradesh has suffered property losses amounting to Rs 4,465 crore. The human toll is equally grim — 386 fatalities have been recorded, including 168 in road accidents. Another 451 people have been injured, and 41 remain missing.
The state’s housing infrastructure has been hit hard, with 538 permanent (pucca) and 834 temporary (kutcha) homes fully destroyed. An additional 1,878 permanent and over 4,000 temporary houses have sustained partial damage.
Emergency Measures in Place
State disaster response teams remain on alert as authorities work to restore essential services and reopen vital transport routes. Locals in vulnerable areas are being advised to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary and to stay informed through official weather and emergency advisories.
