Palampur paralysed: Heavy rains cause widespread infra damage

Normal life has been severely affected in Palampur and nearby areas due to heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours. All rivers, rivulets and streams in the region are in spate.

Public infrastructure, including roads, water supply and irrigation schemes, has suffered extensive damage. Several areas are also without electricity, as transmission lines have been damaged.

Vehicular traffic on the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway was suspended for several hours following landslides and the uprooting of trees near Ghatta, which is 25 km from Palampur. Later in the day, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) cleared the debris and restored traffic movement.

The administration has issued an advisory urging tourists to avoid travelling to Billing, Rajgundha and Chhota Bhanghal, as roads in these areas are blocked at multiple points due to heavy rainfall.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Palampur, Netra Meti, said a 24-hour control room has been set up in her office. In case of emergencies, people can seek assistance by dialling 01894230595. She added that vehicular traffic on all roads under her jurisdiction has been restored. However, she appealed to locals and tourists to avoid riverbeds, warning of a possible sudden rise in water levels due to rainfall in the higher reaches of Dhauladhar hills.

The Beas river at Jaisinghpur is currently flowing above the danger mark. SDM Jaisinghpur has urged people to stay away from the riverbed, as water level is expected to rise with the opening of the Pandoh and Larji dam gates by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). Control rooms have also been established at the SDM offices in Baijnath, Jaisinghpur and Dheera to handle emergencies related to the heavy rainfall.

Sources reported extensive damage to internal roads in Palampur, Jaisinghpur, Bhawarna and Baijnath divisions. Water supply schemes operated by the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Department have also been affected.