Relentless rains in Himachal Pradesh caused landslides, road closures, and evacuations. Kiratpur-Manali highway remains blocked, stranding thousands of tourists.
Relentless rains have wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh, triggering a series of landslides that have crippled road connectivity, disrupted essential services, and forced several families to evacuate.
Further, two women died in separate house collapse incidents on Tuesday amid relentless rain. The extreme weather also led to the closure of 1,337 roads, including four national highways, causing widespread disruption. With several key roads being blocked, contact with some of the key regions have been cut off, leading to widespread logistical challenges.
The Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway remains out of bound for a second day on Tuesday owing to multiple landslides between Mandi and Banala. With the alternate Kataula route also being blocked, over 2,000 vehicles are stuck in Mandi and Kullu, leaving tourists and locals stranded amid deteriorating weather.
The transport paralysis has severely impacted farmers from Lahaul and Spiti, who are now watching their unsold vegetable produce rot in the fields. The prolonged blockade threatens both their seasonal income and the wider vegetable supply chain.
In a separate incident, a rockfall near the Paddal Gurudwara in Mandi town struck two houses, sparking panic among residents. Fortunately, all occupants evacuated in time, and no injuries were reported.
The area has been declared unsafe and vacated as a precaution, the authorities have said. The affected families were moved to safer locations, and nearby residents also left their homes fearing further rockfalls.
Further, in Manali, two people were rescued after their vehicle was caught in a landslide-related mishap. Rescue teams remain on high alert, with officials urging the public to stay away from unstable areas and report any signs of ground movement.