Monsoon nightmare: Dharamsala faces Rs 12 crore infra damage

Relentless rainfall over the past fortnight has wreaked havoc in Dharamsala, damaging nearly every major road in and around the town. Landslides, waterlogging and collapsing infrastructure have brought daily life to a standstill, leaving residents anxious as the fragile hill town struggles under the weight of the ongoing monsoon.

Popular tourist routes to Kharota, Indrunag, Heeru and Khaniyara, as well as internal village roads near Thathri, Slate Godaam, Kaned, Barwala and Suder, have been hit hard. In several places, roads have caved in or turned into gushing drains, cutting off access to key areas.

A major landslide has blocked the Khara Danda road — the shortcut to McLeodganj — while the Indrunag road, currently under widening, has suffered severe damage as the fragile terrain failed to withstand deep excavation. Overflowing drains in Slate Godaam and Pallan have sent floodwaters into homes, leaving residents stranded.

At Khaniyara, the nullah near Indrunag temple swelled dangerously, reviving memories of a past cloudburst disaster. The Heeru-Jogibara road is in disrepair and in nearby Sarah village, construction-triggered landslides are now threatening houses. Public utilities have been heavily impacted. Several rising main water supply pipes maintained by the Jal Shakti Department have been uprooted, disrupting water supply in Ramnagar and Shamnagar during the peak monsoon. Losses for both the PWD and JSD in Dharamsala are estimated at over Rs 6 crore each.

Bus services on many routes have been suspended due to unsafe conditions, with some vehicles stranded mid-route. Authorities have issued travel advisories urging extreme caution.

Kangra DC Hemraj Bairwa warned residents against unnecessary travel, saying, “Though roads are being cleared, they remain slippery and dangerous. Public safety must be the top priority.”

With rains showing no sign of abating, the administration remains on high alert while residents brace for more challenges in what has become one of the most punishing monsoon seasons in recent years.