heavy-rains-shut-400-roads-in-himachal-yellow-alert-issued

Heavy rains over the past few days have triggered cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides in Himachal Pradesh, forcing the closure of 400 roads, including one national highway, officials said on Saturday.

 

The Auto-Sainj road, NH 305, has been blocked near Jahed and Banjar in Kullu district. Of the 400 roads shut for traffic, 240 are in Mandi district and 100 in neighbouring Kullu, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC).

The local weather office has issued a yellow warning for heavy rain with thunderstorms and lightning in some areas on Saturday and Sunday. An orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain has been issued for Monday to Thursday.

 

Light to moderate showers were reported in some areas, with the highest rainfall recorded at Naini Devi (112.4 mm), followed by Pandoh (102 mm), Raipur Maidan (74.6 mm), Pachhad (67 mm), Narkanda (66.5 mm), Kasauli (65.5 mm), Kufri (55.2 mm), Nahan (49.3 mm) and Solan (45.6 mm).

So far this monsoon, 112 people have died in rain-related incidents, and 37 are missing. Around 704 transformers and 178 water supply schemes have also been damaged, the SEOC said.

 

Since June 20, the state has reported losses of Rs 1,988 crore, along with 58 flash floods, 30 cloudbursts, and 51 major landslides.