- विज्ञापन -
Himachal Pradesh: More than 260 roads across Himachal Pradesh have been blocked following heavy rainfall over recent days, including 176 in Mandi district, according to officials. The local Meteorological (MeT) office has issued a ‘Red’ alert for very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in isolated areas of Kangra, Sirmaur, and Mandi districts on Sunday.
An ‘Orange’ warning has been issued for other districts such as Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Chamba, Solan, Shimla, and Kullu, indicating the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall in some places.
Rainfall ranging from 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm in a day is categorized as very heavy, while amounts exceeding 204.4 mm are considered extremely heavy. Last year’s monsoon season caused extensive destruction, resulting in over 550 fatalities in the state.
The weather department has cautioned about the potential for landslides, flash floods, waterlogging, and damage to infrastructure, crops, and vital services. Citizens are advised to stay clear of water bodies and vulnerable regions.
According to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), the estimated damages so far amount to approximately ₹541 crore, though Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu mentioned that the actual losses may be closer to ₹700 crore as assessments are ongoing. The disaster has also affected around 300 transformers and 281 water supply schemes.
Since the monsoon began on June 20, the state has recorded 72 deaths, with 45 deaths linked to rain-related incidents like cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides. Mandi district suffered the most damage, with 10 incidents of these calamities on Tuesday, resulting in 14 fatalities. Search operations are currently underway to locate 31 missing persons.
The MeT office has also issued an ‘Orange’ alert for further heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts on Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday.
