From blackouts to broken homes, Solan counts crores in rain havoc

Relentless rains turned life upside down in Solan district, where nature’s fury brought roads, electricity and water supply systems to a grinding halt. In just 24 hours, the hill district bore damages worth over Rs 13 crore, leaving thousands in despair and officials struggling to restore normalcy.

The downpour triggered 111 road closures across the district, with 23 routes blocked in Solan subdivision, 21 in Kasauli, 16 in Arki and eight in Nalagarh. By evening, the tally kept climbing as fresh landslides cut off new routes. Earthmovers and manpower were pressed into action, but with rain refusing to relent, progress was painfully slow.

The Public Works Department alone reported losses worth Rs 5.12 crore. Yet, it was the electricity network that bore the brunt of the storm. Across the district, a staggering 899 transformers were knocked out of service, plunging households into long hours of darkness. Kasauli suffered the worst, with 433 transformers crippled after falling trees flattened electric poles. As many as 226 units failed in Baddi, 122 in Arki and 118 in Nalagarh, forcing linemen to work sleeplessly under hostile weather. The power department pegged its damages at Rs 68 lakh.

The Jal Shakti Department, too, battled its own crisis, as water supply schemes were smashed in several subdivisions. In Baddi and Nalagarh alone, seven major schemes collapsed, while district-wide losses reached Rs 6.33 crore. Taps ran dry in multiple areas of Solan and Kasauli, worsening the misery of residents already coping with power cuts.

The havoc was not limited to infrastructure. At Chauhara village in Kandaghat subdivision, tragedy struck when a villager, Jaswant Singh, was electrocuted, adding a grim human toll to the disaster. Meanwhile, homes bore scars of the storm — six houses partially damaged, six retaining walls collapsed, 14 cowsheds destroyed, five schools battered and even a veterinary hospital left in ruins.

Among the worst-hit stretches were Barotiwala-Subathu-Kunihar road, Parwanoo-Kasauli road, Subathu bypass, Bhojnagar-Chakkimour route and Deothi-Barakoon road, all choked by landslides.

By evening, officials admitted that 518 transformers and 28 water supply schemes remained unrepaired, while dozens of rural roads were still cut off. “Our teams are working day and night, but the continuous rain is hampering restoration,” said Deputy Commissioner Manmohan Sharma, painting a bleak picture of the district’s struggle.

For Solan, the last 24 hours have been nothing short of a nightmare — a reminder of how swiftly rain can unravel life in the fragile hills.