BBN industrial units suffer damages

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, August 13

Tall claims of having stepped up disaster management measures appear to have fallen flat in the industrial belt of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) where not only were the 100-odd industrial units flooded with water but at least three bridges were endangered due to the torrential rains which hit the area during the last 24 hours.

Various industrial units suffered losses worth several lakhs due to flooding of their units which led to wastage of raw material as well as the finished products. The whole BBN presented a picture of chaos as the power supply was disrupted for a major part of the day due to flooding of the 70 MVA capacity Jharmajri-based sub-station. As many as 20 houses were partially damaged and 21 cowsheds suffered damage. Major roads, including Ramshehar-Nalagarh, Ramshehar-Loharghat, Diggal and Jainagar, remained shut due to landslides.

Traffic on the Chikni bridge in Nalagarh sub-division was suspended as a portion of its approach road gave way after the heavy rains this morning. SDM Nalagarh Prashant Deshta confirmed that sizeable damage had been caused to the approach road to the Chikni bridge making it risky for traffic. Vehicular movement on the Swarghat-Nalagarh road was suspended. He said work was underway to repair the road.

With water level in various rivers of the BBN high, water was seen flowing above the Bagvania bridge and the Balad bridge making it difficult for the vehicles to drive. Water at the Mandiarpur bridge was also high. It could be seen touching the bridge. The district administration pressed labourers and ensured cleaning up of the Bagvania bridge where muck had been blocking the course of water.