Himachal Pradesh reels under relentless rains as IMD issues a red alert, multiple casualties reported, highways blocked, schools closed till 7 September, and NHAI airlifts heavy machinery to repair the battered Kullu–Manali road.
Full Story:
Himachal Pradesh continued to reel under the fury of the monsoon on 3 September 2025, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a red alert across the state for the next 72 hours. The warning highlighted the possibility of intense rainfall, flash floods, landslides, and waterlogging, which has already left a trail of destruction across districts. The weather office urged commuters to avoid travel and residents to remain indoors, citing elevated risks in slope-prone areas and along riverbanks.
The last 48 hours have brought tragic news from across the hill state. At least five people, including a two-and-a-half-year-old girl, lost their lives in rain-related incidents. Two more are missing in separate landslides and flash flood situations, while rescue operations remain hampered by continuous rainfall and difficult terrain. Several houses collapsed due to land erosion, and families were evacuated in districts such as Mandi, Kullu, and Kangra, where rivers have swelled beyond safe limits.
In one of the most striking developments, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) resorted to airlifting nine heavy-duty machines, including earthmovers and excavators, to restore the badly damaged Kullu–Manali highway. The road is a lifeline for tourism and trade but has remained blocked due to massive landslides and accumulated debris. Authorities said this was one of the rare occasions when such an emergency airlift was undertaken for highway restoration, underlining the severity of the crisis.
The state government, after consulting the education department and disaster management teams, announced that all schools and educational institutions will remain closed until 7 September 2025. The decision was taken as a precautionary measure to safeguard students amid the continuing rainfall and blocked roads, in line with similar moves in neighboring Punjab.
The situation is also alarming in river catchments, with the Beas and Sutlej flowing close to danger marks. Disaster management officials have activated relief shelters in vulnerable zones and placed the Army and NDRF on standby for rescue operations. In some districts, panchayats have been asked to maintain 24-hour vigil, especially in flood-prone hamlets.
The continuing havoc has not only disrupted normal life but also highlighted the long-term challenge of Himachal’s fragile ecology. Experts warn that recurrent landslides are a result of not just extreme rainfall but also decades of haphazard construction and deforestation in hill slopes. The current spell has reignited debates over sustainable development and the urgent need for resilient infrastructure in mountain states.
While authorities are on high alert, with control rooms monitoring the situation, residents across Himachal are bracing for more uncertainty in the days to come. With travel routes snapped, schools closed, and lives lost, the monsoon of 2025 is proving to be among the harshest in recent years for the Himalayan state.
This is a web generated news report.
