Sunni waterlogged as Sutlej water level rises

Several areas of Sunni in Shimla district were waterlogged on Friday due to a rise in the water level of the Sutlej river, triggering panic among local residents.

According to reports, the Sutlej river swelled as a result of heavy rainfall, submerging a bridge that connects Thali village with Sunni. River water also entered the building of the Industrial Training Institute (ITI), a park and several houses near the river.

As a precautionary measure, houses near the reservoir were vacated and residents were shifted to safer places.

Rakesh Verma, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), said that the water is now receding but several areas of the town remain waterlogged.

He added that rehabilitation and restoration work is currently underway.

Traffic movement on the Panthaghati-Khalini road in Shimla was also disrupted due to a landslide. As a result, debris blocked the road, halting vehicular movement.

District administration and police teams are at the spot, and machinery has been deployed to clear the debris. Vehicles headed to Shimla via Panthaghati are being diverted through Kasumpti road.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department has forecast continued heavy rain on Saturday. An orange weather warning has been issued for Chamba, Kangra, Bilaspur and Solan districts, and a yellow alert for Shimla, Hamirpur, Kullu, Sirmaur and Una, with heavy to very heavy rainfall expected in isolated areas.