537 roads shut in Himachal; Ghaggar swells in Punjab

As many as 537 roads, including four national highways, have become non-operational across Himachal following heavy to very heavy rain on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, the Patiala administration on Wednesday sounded a flood alert, asking residents of over a dozen villages situated along the Ghaggar to stay vigilant as the water level in the seasonal river touched the danger mark following heavy rain in areas fed by it.

The villages put on alert included Untsar, Nanherhi, Sanjarpur, Lacchru, Kamalpur, Rampur, Saunta, Marhu, Chamaru, Bhasmara, Jalahkherhi, Haddana, Pur and Sirkapra in Sanaur, Ghanaur and Rajpura subdivisions of the district.

In Himachal, while two national highways have been disrupted in Mandi district, one each has been blocked in Kullu and Kinnaur districts. A landslide was reported from Kangra district, blocking the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway.

A landslide blocked the vulnerable Chakki Mor near Parwanoo around 6 am on Wednesday. Only single-lane traffic could be restored at 9.15 am, leading to slow movement of traffic due to long queues of vehicles on either side of the point. Besides, 60 residents from the Nand panchayat in Nalagarh subdivision had to vacate their houses as a large tract of land subsided due to heavy rain.

Besides, educational institutions remained shut on Wednesday in many subdivisions across the state. All educational institutions remained shut in the Solan and Sirmaur districts.

According to the weatherman, rain will continue till August 11 in various parts of Himachal. The department has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain at isolated places until August 11.