Rain triggers landslides, disrupts traffic in Himachal

Heavy rain forecast over the weekend in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Chamba, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur districts. Improvement from July 8, but inclement weather will persist till July 11.

Himachal Pradesh experienced heavy rainfall on Friday, leading to landslides and floods that left 77 roads blocked, most of them in Mandi district, officials said.

People at the Ridge in Shimla on a rainy Friday afternoon. The weather department has forecast an increase in monsoon activity with heavy to very heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh over the weekend. (PTI Photo)

The rain affected 236 electricity transformers, disrupting power and water supply schemes.

Two trucks and a motorcycle were caught in the debris after a flash flood at Zing-Zing Bar on the Manali-Leh road. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel rescued the motorcyclist and managed to restore traffic on the route after a challenging effort.

The Indian Meteorological Department, Shimla, has forecast an increase in monsoon activity with heavy to very heavy rainfall expected in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Chamba, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur districts. The rainfall is likely to decrease from July 8, but inclement weather conditions will persist till July 11.

Various parts of the state received significant rainfall, with Palampur recording 128mm, Kataula 110.2mm, and Baijnath 95mm of rainfall.

Rainwater entered people’s houses at Nagri Chachiyan in Kangra district.

The government has advised people and tourists to avoid going near rivers and streams as the water levels have increased due to the rain.

The rain brought down the mercury with Kumkum Seri in Lahaul and Spiti district recording a high of 11.6°C, while Una was hottest during the day with a maximum temperature of 33.6 degrees Celsius.

Heavy rain caused waterlogging in Kangra’s Ichhi area, while the Barot-Multhan-Lohardi main road was closed due to landslides at multiple places. The Shimla meteorological office issued a yellow alert, warning of heavy rains, thunderstorms, and lightning at isolated places on Saturday. Widespread rain occurred in the state in the past 24 hours.

Palampur was the wettest with 128 mm of rain followed by Kataula 110 mm, Baijnath 95 mm, Jogindernagar 64 mm, Mandi 40 mm, Kothi 36 mm, Kufri 33.2 mm, Shillaroo 32.5 mm, Dharamshala 26 mm, Manali 22 mm and Khadrala 21.6 mm, the weather office said. So far, the state has received 43.2 mm of rain against the normal of 27.2 mm, an excess of 59 percent in July.