'Yesterday, my restaurant made only ₹50, understand my pain too': Kangana Ranaut to Himachal flood victims

"Yesterday, my restaurant made only ₹50 in sales, and I pay ₹15 lakh in salaries. Please understand my pain too. I am also a Himachali and a resident of this place," Ranaut was quoted as saying by NDTV.

Her remarks came as dozens of families in her constituency continued to struggle with the aftermath of flash floods, landslides, and heavy rainfall that have wreaked havoc across large parts of Himachal Pradesh.

Ranaut, who is a BJP MP from Mandi, had launched her Manali-based restaurant, The Mountain Story, earlier this year, promoting it as a hub for authentic Himachali cuisine.

However, with tourism hit by incessant rains and road blockages, the restaurant has seen a sharp decline in business.

During her visit to Solang and Palchan, Ranaut was accompanied by BJP leader and former Manali MLA Govind Singh Thakur.

Villagers briefed her about the devastation, saying 15–16 houses had been declared unsafe, and that Solang itself was under imminent risk of landslides as the Beas river continued to erode the mountain slope. Locals urged urgent steps to divert the river’s course.

The weather situation remains precarious. The Meteorological Department issued a yellow alert for heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning across Bilaspur, Kangra, Mandi, and Sirmaur on Thursday.

Several regions, including Shimla, Kangra, and Palampur, recorded moderate to heavy rainfall, while gusty winds of up to 35 kmph hit Tabo and Bajaura.

Road connectivity has been severely disrupted, with 566 roads closed across the state, including NH-3 (Attari–Leh) and NH-503A (Amritsar–Bhota).

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, Mandi accounts for 203 blocked roads, followed by 156 in Kullu and 50 in Shimla.

The ongoing monsoon season, which began on June 20, has already caused widespread damage and displacement in Himachal Pradesh.