Heavy rain shuts schools in Himachal's Sirmaur, Solan as landslide risk rises

Shimla,UPDATED: Jul 10, 2026 10:44 IST

All government and private schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur and Solan districts remained closed on Friday as relentless rain battered the state, prompting authorities to take precautionary measures amid forecasts of more extreme weather.

The closures were ordered following warnings of extremely heavy to very heavy rainfall and the risk of landslides, flash floods, uprooted trees and road blockages. Teaching and non-teaching staff, however, were directed to report to work.

In separate orders, Sirmaur Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Verma and Solan Deputy Commissioner Manmohan Sharma said persistent rainfall had disrupted rural roads, heightened the risk of landslides and severely affected normal life, particularly in hilly and rural areas.

"Continuous rainfall is leading to obstruction of rural roads, increased risk of landslides and general disruption of normal life, particularly in rural and hilly areas. Such inclement weather conditions are likely to endanger the life and safety of students commuting to and from schools across the districts," the orders said.

The closure was initially announced late on Thursday for Sirmaur's Paonta subdivision before being extended early on Friday to the Nahan, Sangrah, Pachhad and Rajgarh subdivisions through separate orders issued by the respective Sub-Divisional Magistrates.

Officials said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecast extremely heavy to very heavy rainfall, warning of landslides, flash floods, uprooted trees and road blockages that could pose a serious threat to life and public safety. The closures were ordered to minimise risks and prevent any untoward incidents, particularly involving schoolchildren.

Invoking powers under Section 30(v) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Deputy Commissioners, who also chair the District Disaster Management Authorities, directed all government and private educational institutions and Anganwadi centres in the two districts to remain closed as a precautionary measure.

Elsewhere in the state, heavy rain forced the closure of several roads in Sirmaur district. In Shimla, normal life was disrupted after a retaining wall collapsed in the Vikasnagar area, damaging two vehicles parked nearby.

The closure of educational institutions comes as large parts of Himachal Pradesh continue to grapple with persistent monsoon rain, with authorities remaining on alert for further weather-related disruptions.

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