Shimla, Aug. 29 -- Heavy monsoon rains continue to batter Himachal Pradesh, disrupting essential infrastructure and causing widespread hardship. According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), as of Friday morning, 633 roads, including two national highways, remain blocked, 1,333 electricity distribution transformers (DTRs) are out of service, and 524 water supply schemes stand disrupted across the state.

The ongoing monsoon season since June 20 has claimed 312 lives, with 160 deaths due to rain-related incidents -- including landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, drowning, and electrocution -- and 152 in road accidents, the SDMA said.

Mandi, Kullu, and Kangra districts are among the worst affected in terms of road blockage...