Over 500 roads still blocked in Himachal; heavy rainfall to continue amid yellow alert

As many as 580 roads, including three National Highways (NHs), still remain blocked for vehicular traffic across Himachal Pradesh.

As per the State Emergency Operation Centre, 206 roads — including NH 03 and NH 305 — are blocked in Kullu district, 141 in Mandi, 72 in Shimla, 44 in Kangra, 30 in Chamba, 29 in Sirmaur, 20 including NH 503A in Una, 19 in Solan, 15 in Bilaspur, two in Kinnaur and one each in Hamirpur and Lahual and Spiti districts.

Also, 598 transformers, including 270 in Kullu, 138 in Mandi, 125 in Solan, 41 in Shimla, 21 in Chamba, two in Kinnaur and one in Lahaul and Spiti districts remain disrupted, leaving many areas without electricity. Furthermore, about 367 water supply schemes, including 176 in Kangra, 102 in Shimla, 51 in Mandi, 22 in Chamba, six in Kullu and five each in Solan and Sirmaur district also remain disrupted, affecting the drinking water supply in many areas of these districts.

Heavy rainfall is set to continue across Himachal Pradesh for the next three days as the State’s Meteorological Department has issued a yellow weather warning from September 12 to 14.

As per the Department, yellow weather warning has been issued for Shimla, Kangra, Una, Sirmaur, Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts for September 12, resulting in thunderstorms and lightning in isolated places of these areas. Similarly, yellow weather warning has also been issued for several districts of the state for September 13 and 14 as well, resulting in heavy rainfall in isolated places of the state along with thunderstorms and lightning. The department has also forecasted that rainfall will continue to occur across Himachal Pradesh till September 17.

Meanwhile, during the last 24 hours, the state witnessed heavy to moderate rain at many places, with Baldwara village in Mandi district receiving 70 mm rain — highest in the state. Naina Devi in Bilaspur received 40 mm, Palampur and Kangra received 36 mm each, Sundernagar 33.9 mm, Mandi 27 mm, Sujanpur Tira 20 mm, Kasauli 10 mm, Dharamsala 9.5 mm, Shimla 7.2 mm and Manali 3.3 mm.