Landslips affect water, power supply schemes in Kangra

Continuous moderate to heavy rainfall over the past several days resulted in the blockade of at least 70 roads, including key national and state highways as well as several link roads, in Kangra district on Wednesday. Potable water and electricity supply was also disrupted due to landslides triggered by heavy rain.

According to reports, 70 roads were blocked due to landslides on Wednesday morning. However, more than 40 blocked roads were cleared of debris and reopened for traffic. The work on the blocked link roads was in progress.

The main Dharamsala-McLeodganj road near the Army camp was blocked by a landslide. However, the local authorities cleared debris within a couple of hours and reopened it for traffic. A bridge on the Jawalaji-Khundian via Surani road was damaged, halting vehicular movement. Lanslides also blocked an alternative route via Gummer-Kota-Baggi, cutting off access to the region.

In Shahpur, the Bhanala-Drini, Drini-Boh, Boh-Lam, Ridkmar-Kutharna, Bhitloo-Kut, Chadhi-Ghera, Ghera-Kareri, Kareri-Kutharna, Ridkmar-Ghatarda (washed away), Rait-Nerti and Shahpur-Chakban-Lapiana roads were blocked.

Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa said that barring link roads, most of the highways were cleared for traffic by the evening. The work on the link roads was in progress, he added. He urged commuters to exercise extreme caution while passing through landslide-prone areas, as rainfall was continuing in several parts of the district.

Meanwhile, potable water supply was disrupted in around 50 locations. The power infrastructure had also taken a hit and power transformers and supply lines had been disrupted at 45 locations in the district. Efforts were underway to restore water and electricity supply in the affected areas.

A spokesman for the administration claimed that the authorities were working round the clock to clear road blockades, as more rainfall was expected in coming days.

Hit by shooting stone, youth dies in Shahpur

• A 24-year-old youth died after being hit by a falling stone near Khadibehi village in Shahpur subdivision of Kangra district, SHO, McLeodganj police station, Deepak Kumar said here on Wednesday
• The deceased has been identified as Govind Kumar, a resident of Kareeri village
• He was returning home from Dharamsala on a scooter amid rainfall when a stone suddenly fell from a vulnerable hilltop and struck him on the head, the SHO added
• Locals rushed him to Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College and Hospital, Tanda, but doctors declared him brought dead
• After a postmortem, the body was handed over to the bereaved family