Himachal Pradesh braces for heavy rainfall from Sept 12-14: Over 500 roads blocked

Heavy rainfall is expected to continue across Himachal Pradesh, as the state’s meteorological department has issued a yellow weather warning for the state from September 12 to 14. According to the department, a yellow weather warning has been issued for Una, Bilaspur, and Kangra districts for September 12, predicting thunderstorms and lightning in isolated areas.

A yellow weather warning has also been issued for Shimla, Mandi, Solan, Sirmaur, Kangra, Una, Bilaspur, and Hamirpur districts for September 13, forecasting heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in isolated places. Similarly, a yellow warning has been issued for Kangra, Mandi, Una, Hamirpur, and Bilaspur districts for September 14.

At least 586 roads, including four national highways (NHs), remain blocked in Himachal Pradesh, while around 571 transformers are still disrupted due to damage caused by heavy rainfall during the monsoon season. According to State Emergency Operation Centre, out of the total 586 blocked roads, 216 roads, including NH-3 and NH-305, are blocked in Kullu, 150 in Mandi, 58 in Shimla, 42 in Kangra, 28 in Sirmaur, 20, including NH-503A, in Una, 10 in Bilaspur, seven in Lahaul and Spiti, three, including NH-5, in Kinnaur, and three in Hamirpur district.

Furthermore, out of the total 571 disrupted transformers, 439 are affected in Kullu, 51 in Lahaul and Spiti, 46 in Shimla, 27 in Chamba, and eight in Mandi district. Additionally, 378 water supply schemes are disrupted, including 176 in Kangra, 108 in Shimla, 52 in Mandi, 25 in Chamba, six in Kullu, five each in Solan and Sirmaur, and one in Lahaul and Spiti, leaving most parts of these districts without proper road connectivity, electricity, and water supply.