313 roads remain blocked in Himachal as heavy rainfall continues to wreak havoc

Over 313 roads across the state remain disrupted for traffic movement as a result of being blocked due to torrential rains.

As per the records of the State Emergency Operation Centre, as many as 175 roads in Mandi district, 64, including national Highway 305, in Kullu, 25 in Kangra, 12 in Chamba, 13 in Shimla, seven each in Una and Sirmaur, four in Lahaul and Spiti, three, including National Highway 5, in Kinnaur, two in Solan and one in Bilaspur district, remain blocked for vehicular movement.

As many as 348 distribution transformers — including 322 in Mandi, 11 in Kinnaur, seven in Kullu, six in Lahaul and Spiti and two in Chamba district — and 119 water supply schemes — including 44 in Mandi, 41 in Kangra, 11 in Shimla, nine in Kullu, seven in Chamba, three in Hamirpur and one in Solan district — also remain disrupted.

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall is very likely to continue in Himachal Pradesh as the State’s Meteorological Department has issued yellow weather warnings for various districts till August 19. For August 17, a yellow alert has been issued for Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, Chamba and Sirmaur, resulting in heavy rainfall in isolated places of these districts.

The department has also stated that light to moderate rain along with a few spells of very heavy to heavy rain at isolated places are very likely to continue in the state till August 22. Maximum temperatures during this period are very likely to rise by 2°C to 3°C while minimum temperatures will remain normal.

Meanwhile, very heavy to heavy rain at isolated places and light to moderate rain at most places of the state continued to occur during the last 24 hours.

Naina Devi in Bilaspur received 160 mm rain, highest in the state, followed by Palampur in Kangra district which received 101.4 mm rain. Similarly, Pandoh in Mandi district received 70 mm, Mandi 62.4 mm, Nalagarh 30 mm, Dharamsala 28.4 mm, Bilaspur 25.8 mm, Nahan 22.9 mm, Sujanpur Tira 20 mm, Paonta Sahib 19.4 mm, Kasauli 11.2 mm, Kangra 9.2 mm, Chamba 4 mm and Manali 1.3 mm.