Heavy rain continues to wreak havoc in Himachal; red alert issued for 3 districts for July 6

As heavy rainfall continues to wreak havoc across Himachal Pradesh, the total loss caused in the state has now reached Rs 566.87 crore.

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Till now, as many as 236 roads remain blocked for vehicular traffic throughout the state, including 176 in Mandi, 36 in Kullu, 12 in Kangra, four each in Shimla, Sirmour and Una districts as well as three roads in Chamba. About 239 distribution transformers, including 230 in Mandi, 20 in Chamba, six in Lahaul and Spiti and two in Kullu districts and around 289 water supply schemes, including 278 in Mandi, eight in Hamirpur and three in Shimla district, remain disrupted.

Meanwhile, a red weather warning resulting in extremely heavy to very heavy rain along with thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places has been issued for Kangra, Mandi and Sirmour districts. An orange alert — heavy to heavy rain — in isolated places has been issued for Shimla, Solan, Kullu, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Chamba and Una districts for July 6. A flash flood warning for Shimla, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmour and Chamba districts has also been issued for the next 24 hours.

As per the State’s Meteorological Department, light to moderate rain is very likely to continue at most places till July 11 with one or two spells of heavy rain at isolated places on July 7 and 8.

Maximum temperatures are also likely to fall by 2°C to 4°C in the state in the next three to four days while minimum temperatures are expected to remain normal. As per the Hydromet Division of IMD, moderate risk of flash flood is very likely in few watersheds of Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, Hamirpur and Sirmour districts during the next 24 hours, resulting in surface run off and inundation at some fully saturated soils and low lying areas.

Meanwhile, light to moderate rain was observed at isolated areas of the state during the last 24 hours with Jogindernagar in Mandi receiving 50 mm rain, highest in the state followed by Palampur in Kangra — which received 28.8 mm rain.