Traffic on Kalka-shimla rail route suspended
SHIMLA/DHARAMSHALA: The traffic on world heritage Kalkashimla track remained suspended for a day on Friday as a precautionary measure after multiple landslides triggered by heavy rains led to the derailment of rail car near Barog on Thursday.
The decision was taken by the Ambala railway division keeping in view the safety of the passengers. Nine passengers had a narrow escape after the rail car ferrying them from Kalka to Shimla had run off track on Thursday.
261 roads blocked due to landslides
A total of 261 roads in Himachal Pradesh were blocked due to landslides after heavy rain.
The Nahan to Kummarhatti national highway is blocked at Sadhna Ghat near Naina Tikkar, while the Sataun-renukaji road is blocked near Tikaar in Sirmaur district.
The Powari to Kaza section of National Highway 5 is blocked due to shooting stones in Kinnaur district.
However, traffic has been restored on the Manali-leh highway, which was blocked due to a landslide at Nehru Kund near Manali earlier this week. Bilaspur-shimla highway is also blocked and traffic was diverted through Kalihatti.
Seven houses and nine cowsheds were also damaged.
Kharif crop harvest affected
The incessant rain has caused widespread damage to kharif crops, including paddy and maize, besides affecting the harvest of fruit crops such apple and pomegranate and sowing of potato in Una district.
The monsoon was vigorous in parts of the state. Naina Devi in Bilaspur recorded highest 181mm of rainfall, Kandaghat and Sangrah 65mm each, Solan 63mm, Shimla 55mm, Berthin 47mm , Pachhad and Rohru 45mm each, Jubbal 44mm, Una 43mm, Narkanda, Khadrala, Kufri and Jubbar Hatti 41 mm each, and Kasauli 39mm.
Keylong was the coldest with night temperature of 6.6 degrees Celsius while Chamba recorded high temperature of 27 degrees Celsius.