Rain havoc in Himachal: Landslide in Shimla shuts school; McLeodganj cut off

NEW DELHI: Himachal Pradesh faced more rain-related damage on Friday after fresh landslides were reported across the state, already battered by heavy rains this monsoon.

In Shimla, a landslide near St Edwards School in the Himland area forced the administration to shut the school for two days. The slide also blocked the city’s Circular Road, a key route, with traffic diverted through Sanjauli and Khalini-Bemloe roads.


In Kangra, a massive landslide cut off McLeodganj near a church, halting traffic and leaving commuters stuck. In Kumarsain, a three-storey building collapsed due to land subsidence on Thursday evening. Kinnaur also reported damage after a cloudburst in Thach village.


Rainfall remained high across the state, with Naina Devi receiving 158.6 mm since Thursday evening. Nahan, Bhattiyat, Baldwara, Kangra, Dharamshala, Kahu, Berthin and Bilaspur also recorded moderate to heavy showers. Thunderstorms hit Shimla, Kangra, Bhuntar, Murari Devi and Sundernagar, while strong winds lashed Tabo and Bajaura, according to the Met office.

This monsoon, Himachal has seen 47 cloudbursts, 98 flash floods and 148 major landslides. A total of 427 people have died, including 243 in rain-related incidents and 184 in road accidents. Another 481 people have been injured, while 46 remain missing.

On Friday morning, 425 roads, including three national highways, were closed. The maximum closures were in Mandi, Kullu and Shimla districts. The state emergency operation centre said 107 power transformers and 185 water supply schemes were hit, with estimated losses of nearly Rs 4,754 crore.

Since June, Himachal has recorded 1,021.6 mm of rainfall, about 46 per cent above normal.

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