Himachal Rains Disrupt Life: 102 Roads Closed, Wet Weather To Continue Till September 9

Himachal Pradesh continued to grapple with the impact of persistent rainfall on Friday, with 102 roads remaining closed across the state and authorities warning that unsettled weather is likely to persist for several more days.

The Shimla Meteorological Centre issued a yellow alert for Saturday, forecasting heavy rain at isolated places. Light to moderate showers were reported from several parts of the state, while thunderstorms and lightning affected Kangra and Sundernagar.

Nahan in Sirmaur recorded the highest rainfall since Thursday evening at 67.3 mm, followed by Jogindarnagar with 57 mm, Nadaun with 52.6 mm, and Jatton Barrage and Bharwain, which received 40 mm each.

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, Mandi was the worst affected, accounting for 46 of the blocked roads. Kullu reported 22 closures, followed by Sirmaur with 11 and Kangra with eight. Una had four blocked roads, while Chamba, Shimla and Solan reported three each. Lahaul-Spiti and Bilaspur had one road closure each.

The rainfall has also disrupted essential services. As many as 125 power transformers and 21 water supply schemes have been affected, adding to the challenges faced by residents in several districts.

The MeT office has forecast a wet spell across Himachal Pradesh until September 9, indicating that travel and connectivity could remain affected in vulnerable areas.

The prolonged monsoon has already taken a heavy toll on the state. Since the monsoon began on June 30, at least 108 people have died in rain-related incidents, while the cumulative damage to infrastructure and other sectors has been estimated at Rs 1,235 crore, according to officials.