Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Kiratpur-Manali highway closed, 118 Himachal roads shut amid rain
A place in India called Himachal Pradesh has many mountains and roads.
It has been raining very hard there, which is called monsoon season.
Because of the rain, rocks fell onto a big road called the Kiratpur-Manali highway, so it had to be closed for safety.
Many other roads, 118 in total, were also closed because of the rain.
Cars and buses are being sent on different roads to get where they need to go.
The weather experts warned that more very heavy rain is coming in the next few days.
Since the rainy season started, sadly 68 people have lost their lives because of rain-related accidents.
The damage caused by the rain is worth a very large amount of money.
Officials are asking everyone to drive carefully and follow the new routes.
The Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway in Bilaspur district was shut beyond Mandi Bharari Chowk after fresh rockfall near the Mehla area on Sunday.
Traffic is being diverted via Nauni Chowk, Mandi Bharari Bridge and Swarghat, and authorities issued emergency helpline numbers for commuters.
The State Emergency Operation Centre reported 118 roads closed across Himachal Pradesh due to heavy rainfall, with Mandi (44) and Kullu (39) most affected.
The India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Kangra, Sirmaur and Mandi over the next two days.
At least 68 people have died in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh since the monsoon onset on June 30, with estimated losses of Rs 835 crore.
- Who
- Himachal Pradesh authorities, traffic police and commuters affected by the road closures.
- What
- The Kiratpur-Manali highway was closed after fresh rockfall, and 118 roads were shut across the state due to heavy monsoon rainfall.
- When
- On Sunday, following a rockfall in the afternoon and road closures reported by Sunday evening.
- Where
- Mehla area in Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh, India, with closures across Mandi, Kullu, Shimla and other districts.
- Why
- Heavy monsoon rainfall triggered rockfall on the highway and widespread rain-related damage across the state.
- Closed highway
- Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway (beyond Mandi Bharari Chowk)
- Rockfall location
- Mehla area, Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh
- Roads closed statewide
- 118 as of Sunday evening
- Districts with most closures
- Mandi (44), Kullu (39), Shimla (13)
- Water supply projects affected
- At least 18
- Rain-related deaths since June 30
- 68 (including 14 in landslides, 1 in flash flood)
- Estimated losses
- Rs 835 crore
- Weather alert
- Orange alert for Kangra, Sirmaur and Mandi
- Emergency helplines
- 01978-221059, 01978-221060