Himachal Pradesh Grapples with Severe Weather: Landslides and Snowfall Cause Havoc
Heavy rainfall has triggered a series of landslides in parts of Kullu district, while the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh recorded significant snowfall, creating widespread disruption across the state. Mid and low hills continued to be lashed by rain on Friday, exacerbating the situation.
Tourists Stranded and Roads Blocked in Parvati Valley
In Kullu's Parvati valley, many tourists found themselves stranded as the Manikaran-Barshaini road remained blocked for the second consecutive day on Friday due to a fresh landslide at Ghatigarh. This crucial link road had been temporarily reopened after a previous landslide on Thursday, only to be closed again, highlighting the persistent instability in the region.
Traffic Chaos and Schoolchildren Affected
A mudslide at Jachhni blocked the Bhuntar-Manikaran road, resulting in a severe traffic jam on both sides. Numerous vehicles became stuck in the mud at this location, which has been prone to such incidents in recent years. Compounding the crisis, many schoolchildren returning home after appearing for Class X board examinations were unable to cross the muddy section. Villagers stepped in to carry the children to safety on the other side of the road.
An official noted that while the road was temporarily reopened in the late afternoon, the constant rain raised high chances of it closing again, underscoring the precarious conditions.
Landslides Strike Key Infrastructure
In Kullu town, a landslide struck the Manali highway behind a gas station near the Bhootnath bridge, damaging part of the gas station infrastructure. Another landslide hit a link road near a hydropower project site in Sainj, further complicating transportation networks.
Additionally, a section of the Manali highway, which was damaged in last year's floods and has not been fully rebuilt, began caving in near Raison due to the heavy rainfall. Fortunately, traffic on the highway was not affected, but the incident raised concerns about the long-term stability of critical routes.
Precautionary Measures and Ongoing Threats
Heavy rainfall continued to pose a significant threat to residents of Inner Akhara Bazaar, a landslide-prone area where 10 people lost their lives last year. As a precautionary measure, the administration vacated five houses in the area on Thursday evening to prevent potential casualties.
According to ADC Ashwani Sharma, intermittent rain over the last three days in Kullu district has led to the closure of 35 roads on Friday due to rain and snow, severely impacting mobility and daily life.
Snowfall Disrupts High-Altitude Areas
The Manali-Atal Tunnel highway was closed for tourists at Nehru Kund near Manali due to heavy snowfall. The Atal Tunnel and nearby areas received around 3 feet of snow by Friday evening, while the Jalori Jot mountain pass in Kullu district was also closed due to snowfall.
Other high-altitude places that experienced snowfall on Friday included Keylong, Sissu, Udaipur, Jispa, Gondhla, and Kukumseri in Lahaul Spiti; parts of Pangi valley in Chamba; and Sangla, Kalpa, and Hansa in Kinnaur district.
In Lahaul Spiti, a massive avalanche near Thirot in the Udaipur sub-division temporarily stopped the flow of the Chenab river on Friday evening, adding to the natural hazards faced by the region.
According to the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) in Lahaul Spiti, a total of 134 roads were blocked in the district due to heavy snowfall over the last few days, highlighting the extensive impact of the weather events.
Rainfall Data and Meteorological Insights
Moderate to heavy rainfall was recorded in Kullu, Shimla, Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Bilaspur, and other districts across the state. The Meteorological Centre in Shimla reported that Kullu district recorded the highest rainfall of 35.9 mm, which is 926% more than the normal of 3.5 mm, measured till Friday morning at 8:30 am.
Other notable rainfall figures included Solan with 25.9 mm, Kangra with 23.6 mm, Mandi with 20.8 mm, Kinnaur with 20.9 mm, Lahaul Spiti with 18.6 mm, Hamirpur with 17.3 mm, and Chamba with 16.9 mm.
Overall, Himachal Pradesh recorded an average of 21.4 mm rainfall, which was 436% higher than the normal of 4 mm, indicating an extreme weather event.
On Friday, Kalpa in Kinnaur recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 0 degrees Celsius. The Met department has predicted dry weather in Himachal Pradesh for March 21 and 22, offering some hope for relief from the ongoing disruptions.
