Heavy rain continues to wreak havoc in Himachal Pradesh, cause 495 crore loss

Total loss caused by torrential rain in Himachal Pradesh has reached Rs 495.82 crore as heavy rainfall continues to wreak havoc across the state for the last 13 days. So far, as many as 43 persons have lost their lives due to multiple cloudbursts, flashfloods, landslides, etc., while 110 have suffered injuries and 37 remain missing.

As many as 246 roads remain blocked for vehicular traffic throughout the state. These include 145 in Mandi district, 36 in Kullu, 25 in Sirmaur, 22 in Shimla, 12 in Kangra, three in Una, two in Chamba and one in Solan district. Also, as many as 404 distribution transformers, including 353 in Mandi, 30 in Chamba, 15 in Kullu, three in Kangra and on each in Shimla and Chamba districts, are damaged. As many as 784 water supply schemes, including 605 in Mandi, 104 in Hamirpur, 49 in Kullu, 21 in Sirmaur, four in Chamba and one in Shimla district, are disrupted.

Meanwhile, another flashflood warning has been issued for several districts of the state for the next 24 hours as heavy rainfall continues to occur in isolated areas of the state.

As per the Hydromet Division of Indian Meteorological Department, moderate risk of flashflood is very likely in few watersheds of Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, Hamirpur and Sirmaur districts during the next 24 hours, resulting in surface run off and inundation at some fully saturated soils and low lying areas.

Also, heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely to continue throughout the state till July 9 as the department has issued an orange weather warning for July 5, 6 and 7 and yellow weather warning for July 4 and 8 and 9.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall continued to occur in isolated parts of the state while light to moderate rain was witnessed in most parts of the state during the last 24 hours. Highest rainfall was observed in Pacchad in Sirmaur district which received around 130 mm rain followed by 90 mm in Barsar in Hamirpur district. Una received 55.2 mm rain, Nahan 42.5 mm, Shimla 36 mm, Kangra 32.6 mm, Palampur 32 mm, Kufri 14 mm, Mandi 13.8 mm, Narkanda 10.5 mm and Solan 10 mm.