High-velocity winds disrupt life in lower Kangra

High-velocity winds accompanied by rain showers on Wednesday night lashed Nurpur and surrounding areas in lower Kangra area, disrupting life in many parts of the region. The electricity supply in most parts of the region was snapped due to strong winds. A number of roadside trees reportedly uprooted in the region blocking local roads and snapping power supply lines. The water supply in Nurpur town and affected surrounding areas was also hit on Thursday.

The area plunged into darkness as winds uprooted trees and branches fell on electricity supply lines triggering a power breakdown. Inquiries reveal that nine of 18 power feeders of 11 kv in Nurpur electrical division have badly been affected due to felling of trees on power supply lines or damaging of electrical poles and snapping of supply lines. HPSEBL Nurpur electrical division Executive Engineer Vikas Thakur said field staff was pressed into service early this morning to restore disrupted power supply in the area and the supply in most of the affected area had been restored this afternoon.

Some kutcha retaining walls also collapsed in the area. The high- velocity winds and rain have caused extensive damage to standing wheat crops likely to be harvested in next week in the area. Mango, the cash crop in lower Kangra region also suffered widespread loss.