On Cam: Massive Landslide In Himachal Blocks NH-707 In Shimla After Heavy Rainfall

A landslide due to heavy rainfall obstructed NH707 in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla district, closing the highway and over 80 roads.

Heavy rain caused a massive landslide in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh (Source: X/@TheHeraldDiary)

Source : Other

A massive landslide has obstructed National Highway 707 near Rohana in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, after intense rainfall in the area. As a result of the landslide, this highway, connecting Hatkoti and Paonta Sahib, has been closed.

A video surfaced shows the landslide has caused a substantial section of the hill to collapse onto the road, with large rocks blocking the path. As per the TOI report, the recent heavy rains have resulted in the closure of more than 80 roads throughout Himachal Pradesh, with the districts of Mandi, Kullu, Shimla, Sirmaur, and Kangra being the hardest hit.

#BREAKING Massive Landslide Strikes Shimla, Himachal Pradesh Following Heavy Rainpic.twitter.com/DB1VqM6jZS

— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐲 (@TheHeraldDiary) July 7, 2024

A more concerning issue is that a section of the Chandigarh-Manali four-lane road between Mandi and Pandoh has developed cracks and started to sink, leading to the implementation of one-way traffic since Wednesday. In addition, locals are concerned about the construction quality of a recently built retaining wall.

IMD Issues 'Yellow Alert' In Shimla

The meteorological office of Shimla has issued a 'yellow alert', predicting heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning over the next week until July 12. The weather office has also warned about the possibility of heavy floods in Mandi, Sirmaur, Kangra, Kullu, Kinnaur, and Shimla districts within the next 24 hours.

Despite the normal July rainfall being 35 mm, the state has already received 72.1 mm, recording a 106 per cent surplus. Kukumseri in Lahaul and Spiti marked the lowest night temperature at 11.6 degrees Celsius, while Chamba experienced the highest daytime temperature at 34.1 degrees.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also forecasted heavy to extremely heavy rain in the coming days in the neighboring state of Uttarakhand. The forecast indicated, "Thunderstorms with lightning and intense to very intense spells are likely on July 8-9 in the hills and plains of the state."

Due to the dynamic situation, authorities continue to monitor the weather closely and respond to ongoing challenges caused by the heavy rains across Himachal Pradesh.