The Dharamshala-Kangra National Highway has been obstructed due to a landslide that occurred on Friday morning, instigated by intermittent rains that have been affecting the region since the previous night.
The flow of four-wheel vehicles has completely ceased on this road, necessitating that individuals seek alternative routes. This highway serves as the primary connection from Dharamshala to Kangra and the airport, which has been impeded near Lower Sakoh since 8:30 am. In the meantime, the southwest monsoon officially arrived in Himachal Pradesh on Friday, five days ahead of its usual onset date of June 25.
It is expected to encompass the entire state by the 25th, which the IMD considers to be normal. With the early onset, numerous areas within the state have already experienced rainfall, and the Meteorological Department has forecasted heavy to very heavy precipitation across Himachal over the forthcoming 5 to 7 days.
Shobhit Katiyar, a Senior Scientist at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Shimla, informed ANI: “On June 20, 2025, the southwest monsoon made its entrance into Himachal Pradesh. It has already reached districts such as Kinnaur, Kullu, Sirmaur, Mandi, Lahaul-Spiti, and Shimla. The remaining districts will be affected by the monsoon within the next 2 to 3 days,” he stated.
“Typically, the monsoon arrives in Himachal by June 25, and in Shimla city by June 22. This year’s arrival is a few days earlier, which is still regarded as within the normal range,” he added. Previously, one individual lost their life and two others were injured when a landslide impacted a pathway to Kedarnath near Jangalchatti in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district.
As per a statement from the Rudraprayag Police, the landslide was instigated by persistent heavy rainfall, which resulted in substantial amounts of debris and stones cascading onto the trekking route, obstructing and damaging the pathway to Kedarnath Dham.
