Heavy snow, landslides: 150 roads blocked in HP
SHIMLA: A number of vehicles were stranded in Kinnaur after a landslide blocked National Highway 5, also known as the Hindustan-Tibet Road, near Bhawanagar on Monday.
The district administration and the Border Road Organisation (BRO) are clearing the boulders and debris from the road.
Two weeks after the state received heavy snowfall approximately 150 roads are still closed to traffic in the Himalayan state, while several villages in Mandi, Kinnaur, LahaulSpiti and the Dodra-Kawar subdivision remain without electricity.
Some villages in Seraj valley in Mandi district have been without power for around 10 days now. The snow had damaged electricity cables, which is making it difficult to restore electricity in some villages .
Rohru sub-divisional magistrate Babu Ram Sharma said, “Electricity has been restored in most parts of Rohru. However, many villages in Dodra-Kawar remain without electricity.”An avalanche damaged apple orchards in Ribba village in Kinnaur district on Sunday.
Morang naib-tehsildar Rajesh Negi said, “Apple orchards have been damaged in Ribba village due to glaciers and avalanches. It is unsafe to go to the spot at this time and therefore the revenue department will be sent to the spot as soon as snowfall subsides. Relief will be provided to those affected.”
The village had also suffered considerable losses due to an avalanche last year. Kinnaur deputy commissioner Gopal Chand said, “The possibilities of avalanches and glaciers have increased in the district due to snowfall. We advise people to not to venture into snow prone areas.”
SNOW LIKELY TODAY: WEATHERMAN
The cold wave continued to affect the state as maximum temperatures remained below normal. State meteorological department director Manmohan Singh said, “The state is likely to receive heavy snowfall and rain on Tuesday and in middle and higher hills on Wednesday after which the weather will remain clear.”