Building collapses in Shimla, rain disrupts power supply

Shimla, April 23

Widespread rain, hailstorm, thunderstorm and unseasonal snowfall have wreaked havoc in Himachal. A five-storey building collapsed in the Sanjauli area of Shimla city due to heavy rain today. However, no loss of life was reported, as the local administration got the building vacated after its retaining wall started caving in yesterday, said Deputy Commissioner Aditya Negi. A part of the Boulieganj to Tutu road also caved in and buses and heavy vehicles were diverted via Chakkar.

The maximum damage to the apple crop was caused in Theog, Rohru and Kumarsein due to hailstorm that pierced through anti-hail nets. Tribal areas and higher hills received another spell of snowfall. Kalpa received 38 cm of snow, followed by Keylong 20 cm, Kothi 10 cm and Khadrala 8 cm. Narkanda, Khadrala, Kharaptthar, Shilaroo, Matyana, Dalog valley and other places had moderate to heavy snowfall, leading to a sharp fall in the mercury.

Power supply remained disrupted in Shimla and hundreds of vehicles were stranded on the Manali-Leh road and other roads. Meanwhile, the police have rescued all 147 persons stranded at the Baralacha Pass at -25°C.

Manali was the wettest with 69 mm of rain, followed by Bhuntar 64 mm, Kotkhai 63 mm, Palampur 55 mm, Dalhousie 44 mm, Kangra 43 mm, Baldwara and Seobagh 42 mm each, Kumarsen and Tinder 40 mm each, Bajura, Shillaro, Jogindernagar and Rampur 39 mm each, Banjar and Kandaghat 38 mm each, Shimla and Dehra Gopipur 37 mm, Karsog, Sarahan and Jubbar Hatti 35 mm each, Dharamsala and Reckong Peo 33 mm each, Naina Devi 32 mm, Baijnath 31 mm, Rajgarh 30 mm, Ghamroor 28 mm, Narkanda 27 mm, Nadaun, Jubbal and Wangtoo 26 mm each, and Manikaran 20 mm.

Meanwhile, biting cold conditions continued in tribal areas and other higher hills and the minimum temperatures dropped by five to 12°C. Keylong was the coldest with a low of -1.4°C. Una recorded a high of 25.2°C. The local Met office predicted a dry weather for next three days. —TNS