Himachal rain fury leaves 68 dead, Kullu schools shut as rain persists

Himachal Pradesh: Heavy rains continued to disrupt life in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, prompting authorities to close educational institutions in Kullu subdivision as the weather department issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in three districts.

All schools, colleges and other educational institutions in Kullu subdivision were closed on Tuesday following a warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall and the risk of landslides, road blockages and flash floods.

The closure order was issued by Kullu Sub-Divisional Magistrate Jaibanti Thakur as authorities stepped up precautions amid worsening monsoon conditions.

Orange alert issued for three districts

The Shimla Meteorological Office issued an orange alert for isolated spells of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Kangra, Mandi and Sirmaur.

Several parts of the state have already received moderate to heavy rainfall since Monday afternoon, with Bhattiyat recording 95.2 mm, Dharamshala 74.1 mm and Bajaura 67.5 mm.

259 roads blocked across Himachal

The State Emergency Operation Centre reported that 259 roads were closed because of the ongoing rainfall. Mandi was the worst affected with 120 blocked roads, followed by Chamba with 42 and Kullu with 40.

A section of the Kirathpur-Manali National Highway was also closed after a landslide near the Jhalogi tunnel in Mandi. Officials said the route would be reopened once rainfall subsides and conditions become safe.

Rain has also disrupted 54 water supply schemes and affected 161 power transformers across the state.

Monsoon toll and damage

According to the latest official figures cited in the report, 68 people have died in rain-related incidents since the monsoon began on June 30, including deaths linked to landslides and flash floods.

The state has reported estimated losses of around Rs 886 crore from the monsoon-related damage.

The latest disruption comes as Himachal Pradesh continues to face repeated landslides, road closures and infrastructure damage during the monsoon. With heavy rainfall forecast in several districts, authorities are prioritising road safety, school closures and preparedness for possible flash floods and further landslides.