Flash floods unleashed their fury upon Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Several landslides accompanied the floods, further exacerbating the situation. Una district bore the brunt of the disaster, as rising water levels seeped into homes and inundated roads, disrupting normal life. The situation in Bathu Bathri village within the Haroli tehsil of Una district proved particularly devastating, with three reported deaths and one person still missing, according to the Hindustan Times. Among the victims was a seven-year-old migrant girl from Bihar.
The floodwaters also inflicted significant damage to infrastructure and machinery in the Bela Bathri Bathu Industrial Area khad in Una district, inundating industrial units. A petrol pump located on Garhshankar Road near the bridge at Bathu-Bathri was swept away by the relentless floodwaters.
Beyond Una, landslides have plagued other districts, including Sirmaur, Kinnaur, Chamba, Bilaspur, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla. The impact has been widespread, with an estimated three hundred roads, including five national highways, remaining blocked across Himachal Pradesh.
According to the Hindustan Times, 138 roads were closed on Friday and 150 on Saturday. The state emergency operation center data reveals that Mandi has been hit the hardest, with 96 roads closed. Shimla follows closely behind with 76 road closures, followed by Kullu (37), Sirmaur (33), Chamba (26), Lahaul and Spiti (7), Hamirpur (5), and Kangra and Kinnaur (four each).
The flash floods have severed connectivity between Kinnaur district and the state capital Shimla. A landslide on National Highway 5 near Negulsariin and flash floods between Pooh and Kaurik have created a barrier, effectively isolating Kinnaur.
In response to the escalating situation, the Lahaul-Spiti police issued an advisory on Sunday urging residents and travelers to exercise caution and avoid rivers, streams, and low-lying areas due to the ongoing risk of flash floods. Meanwhile, Una Deputy Commissioner Jatin Lal embarked on a tour of the district’s flood-affected areas, assessing the situation and reviewing the ongoing relief efforts. The Deputy Commissioner issued instructions to government machinery to expedite relief and rescue operations, ensuring swift and effective assistance to the affected populace.
The Chandigarh-Manali highway faced severe disruption due to a landslide that struck near the 9th mile at 10:00 pm on Saturday, leaving thousands of vehicles stranded on both sides. This marks the fifth consecutive night that the vital road has been blocked. The road was finally cleared for one-way traffic at 7:00 am on Sunday.
