Orange alert issued for Himachal's various districts for 2 days

As many as 332 roads across the state that were damaged due to torrential rain, remain blocked for vehicular traffic. As per the status report issued by the state Emergency Operation Centre, as many as 191 roads are blocked in Mandi district alone, while 74 in Kullu, 25 in Kangra, 15 in Chamba, seven each in Shimla and Una, four each in Solan and Sirmaur, two, including National Highway 1, in Lahaul and Spiti and one in Bilaspur district remain blocked as they were damaged due to heavy rains.

Heavy rainfall is set to continue across the state till August 18 as the state’s Meteorological Department has issued an orange weather warning for various districts of the state for the next two days, resulting in very heavy to heavy rain in isolated areas of the state. The department has also issued a yellow weather warning from August 15 till 18, resulting in heavy rain in isolated areas of the state during this period.

In view of the orange weather warning, people have been advised to avoid going to vulnerable areas and areas that face waterlogging. People have been advised to avoid going near water bodies, avoid trekking, to limit their outdoor activities during heavy rainfall and to keep a safe distance from the vulnerable structures.

Meanwhile, the state experienced very heavy to heavy rain in isolated areas and light to moderate rain at most places during the past 24 hours.

Nagrota Surian in Kangra district received 180 mm rain which was the highest followed by Guler, also in Kangra district which received 160 mm rain. Nadaun in Hamirpur received 80 mm, Dehra Gopipur 76.2 mm, Kangra 73.8 mm, Palampur 69 mm, Shimla 45.6 mm, Dharamsala 42.5 mm, Mandi 42.2 mm, Kufri 39.8 mm, Una 38.4 mm, Kasauli 38 mm, Solan 33 mm, Narkanda 28.5 mm, Sundernagar 27.3 mm, Bilaspur 20.8 mm, Nahan 17.2 mm, Manali 10 mm, Chamba 8 mm and Kalpa 6 mm.