Heavy rain that triggered flash floods on August 11 in the Munchi Nala and Chapaur Nala streams of Lahaul-Spiti district have caused damage to various developmental works and infrastructure facilities, officials said.
The administration and the revenue department inspected the affected areas and conducted a preliminary assessment of the damage. According to the revenue department’s preliminary report, the flash flood in Chapaur Nala damaged the irrigation channel (kuhl) leading from the stream towards Chapaur. Meanwhile, the flood in Munchi Nala damaged approximately 700 metres of the link road connecting Tinno to Munchi, disrupting local transportation.
According to the officials, the flash floods damaged a tank and solar irrigation pipes constructed under the JICA project. Additionally, two retaining walls, four girders, and approximately 20 to 25 planks belonging to the culvert over Munchi Nala were washed away. The surging waters also damaged nearby irrigation channels and the village’s drinking water supply scheme.
Preliminary assessments indicate damage to a private irrigation channel—serving the fields of Tenzin Namgyal, Karma, and Sonam Dorje towards Munchi—spanning a length of approximately 70 metres.
Agricultural land has also suffered damage. A broccoli crop was growing in the field owned by Rigzin Palvar and the field was inundated with debris with debris accumulation reaching a depth of about 1.5 feet.
{{/usCountry}}Agricultural land has also suffered damage. A broccoli crop was growing in the field owned by Rigzin Palvar and the field was inundated with debris with debris accumulation reaching a depth of about 1.5 feet.
{{/usCountry}}Similarly, approximately land belonging to Wangyal and Karma were affected by debris accumulation in their fields. Fifty pipes, each 63 metres long and laid for irrigation purposes, have also been damaged.
In view of this flash flood, Keylong sub-divisional magistrate (civil) Kunika Akers, Keylong tehsildar Vikas Kumar, revenue officials (Girdawar-Kanungo), officers from various concerned departments, and residents of Tinno village visited the site on August 12 to assess the damage. Officials inspected the affected areas and took stock of the condition of damaged roads, irrigation channels, drinking water and irrigation schemes, and other infrastructure.