Solan reports Rs 46cr rain loss in 24 hours

Vehicular traffic on the Dharampur-Parwanoo stretch of NH-5 was disrupted this afternoon after mounds of boulders and muck rolled down from an excavated slope near Sanwara, blocking the road.

The 60-metre vulnerable stretch has been eroding for the past three days due to relentless rain, which caused heavy seepage in the hillside. Traffic came to a halt for nearly half an hour before the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) pressed machines and labour into service, clearing debris to open two of the four lanes. Both uphill and downhill vehicles were diverted through these two lanes, leading to long queues on either side.

Officials admitted that no slope protection work has been undertaken at this site, where erosion has become routine during rains. Two days ago, a labourer narrowly escaped being crushed when a boulder rolled down during clearance work. NHAI officials said private land ownership had delayed slope protection works here, despite similar efforts underway at 26 other sites. Trouble, they added, worsened after vertical cutting of 30-40 feet was carried out along the slope.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the district, heavy rains caused widespread damage: four concrete houses and six kutcha houses were fully destroyed, while six kutcha and six pucca houses sustained partial damage. Five retaining walls and 26 cowsheds were also damaged, hitting cattle owners hard.

The PWD reported losses of Rs 10.71 crore, the NH wing Rs 13.50 lakh, the Jal Shakti Department Rs 3.29 crore and the Power Department Rs 4.39 crore. In total, the district suffered losses worth Rs 46.91 crore in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative monsoon losses so far to Rs 194 crore.