Cloudburst hits 3 villages in Rampur

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 18

Three villages in remote Kut panchayat of Rampur subdivision were cut off following a cloudburst at Khuncha village on Friday evening.

The only bridge connecting the villages has been damaged. A small bridge connecting Kut village with Kanda, Khuncha, Kutlu and Suru Khud have also been washed away. Roads in the area too met the same fate.

Most villagers are shepherds. They were out to graze their animals when the cloudburst occurred, damaging all roads. “We have sent teams to Kanda to know about the well-being of the villagers,” said pradhan of Kut panchayat Vijay Matat.

He said as per information, 10 persons were stranded in Ropani, while some were stuck in Kyaao panchayat.

Deputy Commissioner Amit Kashyap said three footbridges had been washed away in the village due to the cloudburst, but there was no loss of life. Relief material and food items had been sent to the village. “It will take time to repair the footbridges as there is no motorable road to the village,” he added.

National Highway-22, which was blocked at Shkriala on the Mehli-Maliana section on the suburbs of Shimla due to a landslide, has been opened and trucks will be allowed to ply on the route at night.

The Shimla-Hatkoti road too had been opened to traffic. The road was blocked near Patti Dhank between Kotkhai and Kharapathar following a landslide.

The vehicular movement would not be allowed at night as a precautionary measure, the DC said.

Shimla-Hatkoti road opened 

• National Highway-22, which was blocked at Shkriala on the Mehli-Maliana section on the suburbs of Shimla due to a landslide, has been opened and trucks will be allowed to ply on the route at night.
• The Shimla-Hatkoti road too has been opened to traffic. The road was blocked near Patti Dhank between Kotkhai and Kharapathar following a landslide. 
• Vehicular movement will not be allowed at night as a precautionary measure.

Two feared drowned 

Shimla: Two persons, who were trying to collect logs floating in the Sutlej near Kumarsain, were swept away by the strong currents. Six to seven persons were lifting logs when Chander Mohan (42) and Naresh (33) fell into the river. A search operation is on.

Rs 5 crore relief for Kerala

Shimla: The Chief Minister on Saturday announced a financial assistance of  Rs 5 crore to the flood-ravaged Kerala Government.  The Chief Minister said the situation was grave in Kerala and the entire nation was with the people in the hour of distress. TNS