The Himachal Pradesh government is working on setting up an AI-based early warning system to send timely alerts during disasters, said PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Wednesday. He said this after visiting flood-hit Mandi, where three members of a family lost their lives in flashfloods on Tuesday.
“The state government is prioritising disaster preparedness. A comprehensive roadmap is being developed in collaboration with the Centre to install an AI-based early warning system,” Singh said. He also warned against the uncontrolled digging and cutting of hills during highway construction.
“Unscientific cutting of hills during highway constructions must be avoided. The state government is serious about this issue and has raised it with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). Development should not cause destruction. There should be sustainable development,” he added.
Heavy rains continued to lash Himachal, triggering more landslides and flashfloods. Over 250 roads are blocked, many areas have no electricity or water, and the death toll has reached 170. Losses have crossed ₹1,600 crore.
Mandi district has suffered the most, with 35 deaths and 193 road blockages out of 289 across the state.
The Chandigarh-Manali highway was blocked again near Pandoh on Wednesday morning but was later reopened. A section of the highway caved in at Kainchi Mod near Pandoh. This stretch had just been rebuilt after being destroyed in last year’s floods.
"We have suggested to NHAI that highway traffic between Mandi and Kullu should be diverted through alternate routes during monsoon. We are already working to upgrade the alternate link roads of Mandi-Kamand-Bajaura and Pandoh-Chailchowk," said Vikramaditya Singh.
The weather department has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain on July 31 in Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla districts.
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