Himachal Rain Fury: Chandigarh-Manali highway shut, alternative route also blocked
Shashi Bhushan Purohit
Kullu (Himachal Pradesh), August 11, 2026: Torrential rainfall across Himachal Pradesh has disrupted normal life, with the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway blocked near Jhalogi in Mandi district due to heavy rain.
The Mandi-Kataula road, an alternative route connecting Mandi with Kullu-Manali, has also been closed, leaving vehicular movement between Mandi and the Kullu-Manali region severely affected.
Heavy rain has also triggered landslides in Shimla. A late-night landslide in the Sanjauli Cemetery area swept away a scooter and a motorcycle parked along the roadside. Both vehicles were buried under the debris.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, prompting authorities to advise residents and motorists to exercise extreme caution and avoid unnecessary travel.
Meanwhile, schools and colleges in Kullu have been closed in view of the adverse weather conditions. The district administration is closely monitoring the situation and has urged people to remain alert as heavy rainfall may trigger further landslides and road blockages.