Heavy rainfall in Shimla, highest precipitation in decade

SHIMLA:THE state capital on Tuesday recorded the highest precipitation of 118.6 millimetres (mm) within 24 hours, which is the highest since 2005, said Meteorological department director Manmohan Singh.

Shimla had last received highest rainfall of 108.4mm on July 3, 2005, he said.

“Low-pressure area built over Punjab and Haryana has resulted in heavy rains in many districts of the state,” said Singh. It is due to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds and moisture incursion from both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, he added.

Heavy rains lead to clogging of drains and flooding of shops and houses. Himachal Pradesh tourism development corporation (HPTDC) owned escalator on the Mall road was closed as the water from a nearby nullah entered it. Many shanties were damaged in Sanjauli’s Bangala colony, while rain-water entered houses in Annandale locality.

The road connecting the Mall road and the ridge was inundated as water overflowed from drains.

A car got buried under the debris in Sanjauli locality. Local legislator Suresh Bhardwaj, who is also the education minister, along with mayor Kusum Sadrate and deputy commissioner Amit Kashyap toured Shimla town to take stock of situation.

Dharampur in Solan district recorded 109mm rain, followed by Berthian in Bilaspur with 93mm of rain.

As many as 56 lateral roads were blocked across the state as the rain triggered landslides.

Rain and fog also disrupted morning flights from Chandigarh to Shimla. “There was low visibility at the airport and it remained covered with thick blanket of fog the entire day,” director Shimla airport Sunil Maggirawar said.