900 roads blocked across state, Kullu worst hit; power, water supply disrupted

As many as 900 roads, including three National Highways, were blocked for vehicular traffic as heavy rain continued to wreak havoc across Himachal.

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, the worst-affected district is Kullu where 225 roads, including that National Highway-03 and the National Highwary-305, are blocked, followed by Mandi (193), Shimla (167), Chamba (116), Sirmaur (48), Kangra (42), Una (31), Solan (27), Bilaspur (22), Lahaul and Spiti (15), Kinnaur (4) and Hamirpur (3).

The downpour has also severely disrupted power and water supply. As many as 1,497 power transformers are out of service, leaving several areas without electricity. The highest number of 867 transformers have been disrupted in Kullu, followed by Mandi (218), Shimla (200), Chamba (142), Solan (37), Sirmaur (31) and Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti (one each).

Meanwhile, 388 drinking water schemes remain non-functional in the state, the maximum number of 187 in Shimla, followed by Mandi (79), Kullu (63), Chamba (30), Hamirpur and Kangra (11 each) and Solan (7).

The state Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall till September 12. During this period, the maximum temperatures are likely to rise by 3°C to 4°C while the minimum temperatures will remain steady.

In the past 24 hours, light to moderate rainfall continued across the state; Naina Devi in Bilaspur district recorded the highest rain of 136.8 mm.