Rains, landslides hit life in Kangra

Heavy rain and landslides over the past 24 hours have brought life to a standstill in Kangra district, disrupting essential services and damaging property. According to the District Disaster Management Authority, as many as 60 roads have been blocked and 33 water supply schemes thrown out of service.

The downpour has also left a trail of destruction, with one cattle reported dead, seven houses fully damaged, 53 houses partially damaged and 56 cowsheds destroyed. Five power distribution transformers were also damaged during this period.

The Dharamsala sub-division emerged as the worst affected, with eight roads blocked, three transformers damaged and 25 drinking water schemes disrupted, leading to a severe shortage of potable water in Dharamsala and McLeodganj. Shahpur recorded 13 blocked roads along with damage to one transformer, while Nurpur reported 10 blocked roads and disruption of five water supply schemes. Palampur and Bhawarna together faced 11 road blockages, Indora and Dehra reported six blocked roads each, with Dehra also witnessing disruption of three water schemes. Nagrota Bagwan reported four blocked roads and Jaisinghpur two, while Baijnath recorded a snag in one power transformer.

In contrast, the Kangra, Dheera, Jawalamukhi, Jawali and Fatehpur subdivisions remained unaffected by the rains. No damage has been reported to irrigation, flood protection or sewerage facilities in the district during the past 24 hours.

War-footing repairs on

Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa inspected the rain-affected areas of Kalapul, Dharamkot and McLeodganj in Dharamsala and directed officials to expedite relief and rehabilitation efforts.

He was accompanied by Zafar Iqbal, Commissioner of Dharamsala Municipal Corporation, Rahul Kumar, DFO and officers from various departments. The DC stated that all departments concerned had been instructed to discharge their responsibilities promptly. He added that officials of the Public Works and Jal Shakti Departments were working round the clock to restore damaged roads and drinking water schemes.

According to a report dated August 28, 63 connecting roads and 153 drinking water schemes — both small and large — have been damaged in Kangra district. Repair work is being carried out on a war footing. Bairwa further said residents of flood-sensitive villages in Indora subdivision had been evacuated and shifted to relief camps, while NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed in vulnerable areas.