Heavy Monsoon Rains Cause Havoc in Himachal Pradesh, Buildings Collapse, Rivers Overflow Reported

The monsoon rains in Himachal Pradesh have caused severe disruptions. The water level in the Beas River has risen due to heavy rainfall. In Kullu, a building collapsed and was swept away by the Parvati River on Thursday morning. In the Rampur area of Shimla district, a cloudburst has led to 19 people being reported missing, with over 20 homes destroyed and several vehicles washed away. SDRF teams are actively involved in search and rescue operations. Cloudbursts have also been reported in Kullu and Mandi districts. The Meteorological Department has issued a heavy rainfall warning for all districts of Himachal Pradesh except Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti, with possible thunderstorms and lightning. Rainfall is expected to continue until August 6, with warnings about potential damage to makeshift structures due to strong winds. Following the magistrate's orders, all educational institutions in the Banjar sub-division of Kullu and in Mandi district will remain closed on August 1. Since June 27, the state has seen 124 deaths due to the monsoon rains, with Kangra district reporting the highest number of casualties at 23.