A landslide caused by heavy rain blocked the Cart Road near the Lift area in Shimla on Tuesday, disrupting traffic and causing problems for commuters. The road was later cleared and reopened. Meanwhile, over 230 roads remained closed across Himachal Pradesh after heavy rain over the past 24 hours.
The landslide brought traffic on the busy Cart Road to a halt for nearly an hour. Authorities later removed the debris and restored the movement of vehicles.
According to the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), heavy rain has affected almost every district in the state. Its latest report said more than 230 roads were still blocked. Around 250 electricity distribution transformers (DTRs) were also affected, while over 90 water supply schemes were disrupted.
The disaster management authority also said five persons were killed when an Alto car met with an accident in the Banikhet area of Chamba district amid the bad weather. Flash floods have also affected normal life in Chamba town.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a fresh warning of heavy rain for the next three days. Authorities have been asked to remain alert and closely monitor the situation across the state.
Himachal Pradesh Special Secretary (Disaster Management) Pushpinder Rana said the administration had put emergency arrangements in place following the IMD warning.
"Following the IMD forecast, an alert and advisory have been issued across the state. Teams and machinery have also been deployed. At present, around 230 roads remain blocked, nearly 250 electricity transformers are affected and more than 90 water supply schemes have been disrupted. Restoration work is underway, and the numbers are gradually coming down," Rana said. He said officials were dealing with several incidents linked to the heavy rain across the state.
"Five people lost their lives in a road accident in Banikhet, Chamba. In the Sultanpur area of Chamba, rainwater entered some houses and damaged boundary walls. Our teams are working on the ground. Five people who were stranded in the Manimahesh area have also been safely rescued by the local administration. Disaster management teams remain deployed in areas receiving rainfall," Rana added.
Local resident Karan Sharma said the landslide created serious difficulties for people travelling through the area. "When I reached near the Lift this morning, the road was fully blocked because of the landslide. There was not even enough space for a motorcycle to pass. I was taking a patient to Indira Gandhi Medical College, but we could not reach the hospital on time because of the blockage. People faced a lot of problems," Sharma added.
Another commuter, Vijay Sharma, said he was stuck in the traffic for nearly an hour. "The heavy rain triggered a landslide on Cart Road near the Lift and blocked the entire stretch. I was trying to reach the bus stand, but I could not move because of the traffic jam. I have been stuck here for almost an hour," he said.
Also read: Heavy rain lashes Himachal; dense fog covers Shimla
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