Shimla | August 24, 2026 | INFRAINTEL Bureau
(The Economic Times)
Rain has forced the closure of 125 roads across Himachal Pradesh, disrupted power and water services and caused significant waterlogging in Mandi district, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre.
Mandi was the worst affected district with 62 blocked roads, followed by Kullu with 31, Shimla with 10, Chamba and Kangra with eight each, Una with four and Bilaspur and Lahaul-Spiti with one each.
Thirty-three electricity transformers and 20 drinking-water supply schemes were also disrupted as of the evening of August 22.
Heavy rain turned the historic Clock Tower complex in Mandi’s Indira Market into a waterlogged area, prompting the local traders’ association to demand municipal action.
A road section and retaining wall collapsed near Chamda Mod on the Mandi-Pathankot National Highway, bringing traffic to a halt. The administration restored limited passage for small vehicles by cutting into the hillside but prohibited buses and heavy vehicles and introduced diversions.
The collapse reportedly affected a slope around 200 metres deep, with debris and strong water flow uprooting pine trees.
Mandi recorded 124.4 millimetres of rain over 24 hours, followed by Kangra with 115.8 mm, Sundernagar with 74.3 mm and Dharamshala with 69.4 mm.
Between August 1 and 23, Himachal Pradesh received 185.3 mm of rain against a normal 207.7 mm, an 11 per cent deficit. Despite the aggregate deficit, intense local spells have caused severe disruption.
Since the monsoon began on June 30, around 94 people have died in rain-related incidents and reported losses have reached Rs 1,137 crore. The Shimla Meteorological Centre has forecast wet conditions until August 29.
The contrast between an overall rainfall deficit and damaging short-duration events demonstrates the limits of state-wide averages for disaster planning. Immediate priorities include slope monitoring, drainage clearance, restoration of utilities, traffic control and rapid warnings in vulnerable road corridors.