Several parts of Himachal hit by squall, causing damage

A sudden squall hit various parts of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday night, causing widespread damage.

Power was snapped at most places, vehicles were damaged as trees fell on them, and crop and fruit sustained severe damage at many places.

The squall hit Shimla around 11.15¸ and the town plunged into darkness. Due to the storm, trees were uprooted at a few places and they fell on vehicles.

In the upper Shimla area, the high-velocity winds caused substantial damage to apple and stone fruit growers.

“The storm has caused massive damage to stone fruit like plum and apricot. At many places fruit fell off the trees,” said Kapoor Jistu, a fruit grower from the lower Kotgarh area in Shimla. Apple growers have suffered damage in Jubbal and Rampur areas.