Severe Storm Uproots Trees, Kills Two in Himachal's Kangra; Mandi Faces Heavy Damage
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While snow brings relief and beauty to high-altitude regions, powerful winds and rain wreak havoc in Kangra, Mandi, and other parts of Himachal Pradesh
Fresh snowfall in the high-altitude areas of Lahaul Valley brought joy to tourists visiting Himachal Pradesh. However, the pleasant weather in some regions sharply contrasted with the devastation caused by a severe storm that struck other parts of the state on Monday morning.
In a tragic incident in Kangra district, two people died after a massive banyan tree, uprooted by strong winds, fell on a truck. Several other vehicles were damaged by falling trees in Mandi and Kangra. The Meteorological Department had issued an orange alert for the storm.
Reports indicate that the tree fell in Khawa Panchayat of Nagrota Bagwan, crushing a brick-laden truck. The victims, Sanjeev from Dehra and Tek Chand, a local resident, died instantly. The accident occurred around 4am. Despite prompt efforts by the local panchayat and administration to clear the tree, both men succumbed to their injuries. DSP Ankit confirmed the fatalities.
In Mandi city, multiple parked cars were damaged by uprooted trees. The storm in Bindravani also caused significant damage to the Himachal Darshan Photo Gallery building.
Meanwhile, Bharmour—in the assembly constituency of Chamba—experienced fresh snowfall. MLA Dr Janak Raj led a Tiranga Yatra with party workers in Chask Bhatori, a remote village in the tribal Pangi region, amidst snow-covered surroundings. Higher peaks of Lahaul Valley saw light snowfall, while the lower areas experienced heavy rain. This rainfall brought much-needed relief to farmers and orchardists struggling with dry conditions.
The Border Roads Organisation is actively working to restore the Kunjum Jot, the sole road connecting Lahaul to Spiti. Lahaul–Spiti Police confirmed via social media that although some roads remain closed, restoration efforts are in progress.
IMD Issues Alert
The meteorological centre in Shimla issued an orange alert on Monday morning, forecasting light rain in Shimla and surrounding areas over the next three hours.
Isolated parts of Una and Shimla districts were expected to face light to moderate rainfall, strong winds of 40–50 km/h, lightning, and hailstorms.
Similar conditions were forecast for Bilaspur, Mandi, Kullu, Hamirpur, Solan, and Sirmaur, with winds of 30–40 km/h and lightning. Light rain was also predicted for other isolated areas across the state.
Rainfall recorded in the last 12 hours included 16.4 mm in Mandi, 15.8 mm at Jot in Chamba, 13.2 mm at Kukumseri in Lahaul, 12.4 mm in Kangra, 12.0 mm in Bharmour (Chamba), 10.0 mm in Pandoh (Mandi), 9.1 mm in Karsog (Mandi), 8.8 mm in Rampur (Shimla), 8.0 mm in Jogindernagar, 7.4 mm in Palampur, 7.2 mm in Siubagh, and 7.0 mm in Gohar (Mandi).
The Meteorological Department has warned that adverse weather conditions are expected to continue for the next six days.
First Published:
May 19, 2025, 13:25 IST
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