Torrential rain, winds batter Himachal
SHIMLA: Heavy downpour in several parts of the state continued to disrupt normal life and caused extensive damage to roads, crops and property, prompting the Himachal Pradesh government to issue an alert cautioning people not to go near rivers or rivulets.
Even as the rain abated in most of the places on Saturday, Friday night’s rain damaged properties in Kullu, Shimla and Una districts among others. Due to heavy rains on Friday night, landslide disrupted the vehicular traffic at Neugalseri on national highway number 5 in Shimla, however resumed for light vehicles in the afternoon.
The weather department has predicted heavy rain in the next 48 hours.
In Solan, the Ashwani rivulet damaged a bridge connecting the district headquarters with six panchayats in the Chail area, a popular tourist destination.
In Shimla district, heavy rain caused landslides damaging some roads, houses, water supply pipes and some vehicles. It also damaged vegetable crops and apple orchards in villages surrounding Shimla town, Theog and Matiana, and in Kullu district.
Three houses collapsed in Krishna Nagar. The area is located in sinking zone and every monsoon rain causes damage to houses here.
An estimated loss of `40 crore has been reported across the state so far.
Public works department (PWD) officials said over 200 roads were blocked, affecting the routes of 50 Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses.
In Sirmaur district, rain triggered landslide at Banaur panchayat of the district.
In Bamsan of Hamirpur district rain caused landslide in Tappre village posing threat to few houses. In Una district water has been accumulated in the houses due to blockade in a rivulet in Rampur and Bele villages. Cracks have been reported in the Talada Dhank in Kullu district that has posed threat to almost seven villages. Rising water level of the Beas has also put life of several migrant labourers residing riverside in danger.
Bilaspur recorded 29mm of rainfall, Kasauli 21mm, Mehre and Hamirpur 12mm each, Naina Devi and Nurpur 10mm each, Manali and Jubbal 8mm each, Bijahi 7mm and Jhandutta recorded 6mm of rainfall.
` 5 CRORE DAMAGE TO PROPERTY IN KULLU
KULLU: Heavy rain has caused heavy loss to public and private property in Kullu district. Additional district magistrate Vinay Singh T hakur said recent reports indicated a loss of around ` 5 crore due to rain, but the district administration would assess the actual loss soon.
He said the forest corporation depot was washed away due to swift gush of water in Garsa valley, while there was some damage to the Sainj power project, and some agriculture land had eroded. Besides, some houses and water mills have been damaged in Banjar area and Manikaran valley.
Meanwhile, bodies of two men who were swept away on Friday in Manihar forest area of Garsa valley are still untraceable.
POWER, WATER SUPPLY AFFECTED IN HAMIRPUR
HAMIRPUR: Strong winds coupled with heavy rain in the past 24 hours paralysed normal life in the district. Supply of electricity and water was also affected in various areas.
Maize crop was flattened in many places leaving farmers despondent. Several roads in the interiors of the district were blocked. Public works department workers were seen removing debris to make way for traffic.