Punjab Newsline | Shimla
The southwest monsoon has become fully active across Himachal Pradesh, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting widespread rainfall across the state over the next six days. According to the latest forecast issued by the IMD Shimla Centre, light to moderate rain is expected from July 10 to July 15, while isolated places may witness heavy rainfall.
The weather department has warned that districts including Shimla, Mandi, Solan, Sirmaur, Kangra, Kullu and Chamba are likely to receive heavy rainfall at isolated locations during the period. Sirmaur, Mandi, Shimla and Solan are expected to remain particularly vulnerable, with heavy showers predicted on multiple days.
The first spell of intense monsoon rain has already caused significant damage in Nahan, the headquarters of Sirmaur district. Early Friday morning, a dilapidated retaining wall collapsed in Joshiyon Wali Gali near Bada Chowk, sending large amounts of debris and boulders crashing into the narrow lane.
The landslide completely blocked the passage, trapping nearly 40 people from eight families inside their homes as doors and windows were jammed by the debris.
Residents said the collapse also destabilised the land above the retaining wall, raising fears about the structural safety of several nearby houses. Homes located downhill are also under threat due to the growing pressure of accumulated debris.
The landslide damaged an electricity pole and ruptured a major drinking water pipeline, disrupting power infrastructure and water supply in the locality. With debris covering both the road and pedestrian pathway, residents were unable to leave their homes.
Local residents alleged that the retaining wall had remained in a deteriorated condition for a long time despite repeated warnings. They claimed construction activity had been allowed above the weakened structure, even after concerns about its safety had been raised with the authorities.
The incident has been reported to the local councillor and MLA. Affected families have urged the district administration to launch immediate rescue and relief operations, clear the debris, and ensure the safety of the surrounding residential area.
Continuous rainfall also affected traffic on the Mandi–Kullu National Highway. Large rocks and debris fell onto the road near Hanogi on Friday morning, forcing authorities to restrict traffic to one lane from around 6 a.m. As soon as the incident was reported, Public Works Department (PWD) teams reached the site with heavy machinery and began clearance operations.
After nearly an hour of work, the road was completely cleared by around 7 a.m., allowing two-way traffic to resume on the highway.
Meanwhile, following an Orange Alert issued by the IMD for Solan district, the district administration declared a holiday on Friday for all government and private educational institutions, including Anganwadi centres. The precautionary closure was announced in view of the heightened risk of landslides, flash floods, falling trees and road blockages caused by persistent rainfall.
