Shimla, 16 August (Kiran News). The monsoon continues to wreak havoc in Himachal Pradesh, with the Meteorological Department issuing a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in several districts till 19 August.
According to the weather department, heavy rain is likely in Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, and Sirmaur districts on 17 August; in Kangra on 18 August; and in Kangra and Mandi districts on 19 August. The weather will remain bad from 20 to 22 August, but no alert has been issued for these days.
Landslide in Shimla, Flood-Like Situation in Sunni
Though there was no rain in Shimla on Saturday, bringing some relief to residents, a massive landslide occurred on the Vikasnagar-Panthaghati road under Chhota Shimla police station area. The road was blocked for several hours due to heavy debris falling from the hillside. One lane has been cleared with machinery, but it will take more time to restore full connectivity. Some parked vehicles are feared to be trapped under the debris.
Meanwhile, a flood-like situation has developed in Sunni area of Shimla after the Sutlej river rose dangerously. Water has reached the ITI, forest rest house, and sewage treatment plant. Movement on the Sunni bridge has been stopped, and people have been warned to stay away from the Sutlej. In Kangra district, water released from the Pong dam has worsened the situation. A multi-storey building in Mand Bhograwa village lost part of its structure due to a sudden rise in the Beas river, but timely evacuation averted a major tragedy.
Roads, Traffic, Power, and Water Supply Badly Hit
Heavy rain has severely affected roads and transportation. As of Saturday evening, the State Emergency Operations Centre reported that two national highways and 311 roads were blocked, including 175 roads in Mandi district alone. Kullu had 63, Kangra 25, Chamba 12, and Shimla 13 blocked roads. National Highway 305 is closed near Jahed Khanag in Kullu, while NH-5 is disrupted in Kinnaur.
Power and water supply have also been badly affected. A total of 348 transformers are down, with 322 in Mandi district. There are 119 disrupted water supply schemes, including 44 in Mandi, 41 in Kangra, and 11 in Shimla.
Death Toll Reaches 261, Maximum Casualties in Mandi
This monsoon season has brought widespread devastation across the state. Official reports state that 261 people have died, 37 are missing, and 332 have been injured so far. Mandi district has recorded the highest number of deaths at 47, followed by Kangra (40), Chamba (30), Shimla (26), Kinnaur (24), Kullu (22), Hamirpur and Solan (16 each), Una (14), Bilaspur (10), Sirmaur (9), and Lahaul-Spiti (7).
2385 Houses Damaged, 360 Shops and 2,174 Cattle Sheds Destroyed
Rain and landslides have caused severe damage to houses, shops, and cattle sheds. So far, 2,385 houses have been damaged, of which 566 have collapsed completely. A total of 360 shops and 2,174 cattle sheds have been destroyed. The worst-hit is Mandi district, where 1,255 houses have been damaged, including 430 completely destroyed. In the same district, 287 shops and 1,208 cattle sheds have been destroyed. This monsoon season, 1,626 animals and 25,755 poultry birds have died.
Monsoon Causes Losses Over ₹2,144 Crore
According to government estimates, the state has suffered losses exceeding ₹2,144 crore in public property due to the monsoon. The Public Works Department has suffered the most, with losses of ₹1,188 crore, while the Jal Shakti Department has lost ₹697 crore. So far, 63 landslides, 74 floods, and 34 cloudburst incidents have been reported in the state this season.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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