No respite: Rainfall likely to continue in Himachal Pradesh till September 12

As many as 900 roads, including three National Highways (NH), remain blocked for vehicular traffic as a result of heavy downpour that continues to wreak havoc across the state.

As per the State Emergency Operation Centre, as many as 225 roads, including NH 03 and 305 are blocked in Kullu district alone — highest in the state. As many as 198 roads in Mandi, 167 roads in Shimla, 116 in Chamba, 48 in Sirmaur, 42 in Kangra, 31 in Una, 27 in Solan, 22 in Bilaspur, 15 including NH 505 in Lahaul and Spiti, four in Kinnaur and three in Hamirpur district are also blocked for traffic, affecting the connectivity in many parts of the state.

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Additionally, about 1,497 distribution transformers including 867 in Kullu, 218 in Mandi, 200 in Shimla, 142 in Chamba, 37 in Solan, 31 in Sirmaur, and one each in Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti are also disrupted, leaving many areas without electricity. Apart from this, 388 drinking water supply schemes including 187 in Shimla, 79 in Mandi, 63 in Kullu, 30 in Chamba, 11 each in Hamirpur and Kangra and seven in Solan district also remain disrupted.

As per the State’s Meteorological Department, heavy rainfall is very likely to continue across the state till September 12. During the last 24 hours, the state continued to receive light to moderate rain with Naina Devi in Bilaspur district receiving 136.8 mm rain — highest in the state.