Chandigarh-Manali highway blocked after Beas water floods road

Dipender Manta 
Tribune News Service 
Mandi/Shimla, September 23

The Chandigarh-Manali highway was blocked for normal traffic after Beas river water flooded the road near Dwada on Sunday.

A portion of the road was submerged in water leaving many commuters stranded. The water level in the Beas rose following a cloudburst at Fozal in Kullu district.

Due to heavy rain, the Himachal Pradesh government to order closure of all schools in Kullu and Kinnaur districts on Monday, officials said.

All government and private schools will remain closed in tribal district of Kinnaur on Monday as per the directions issued by Deputy Commissioner Gopal Chand, an official said Sunday.

Similarly, all private and government schools as well colleges and ITIs will remain closed Monday in Kullu district, Deputy Commissioner Yunus said.

Meanwhile, at least 20 stranded people have been rescued from the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) official said.

They were stranded due to the closure of the Rohtang Pass after heavy snowfall, Lieutenant Colonel D S Bisht said.

After getting information, a General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) truck was sent and they were brought to Manali safely with the help of Col A K Awasthi and Kullu Deputy Commissioner Yunus, Bisht said.

Rohtang Pass witnessed about 4 ft of fresh snowfall on Sunday. The people should take utmost care while coming out of their homes in the area, the officer added.   

After a brief respite, monsoon revived in the state with moderate to heavy rains lashing several places in last 24 hours.The authorities have issued an alert and have warned residents not to venture near the river and rivulets for their safety.

Manali received heavy rainfall in 24 hours. As per data recorded at 8.30 am Sunday, most parts of the state received moderate to heavy rains in 24 hours, the Met Centre Director Manmohan Singh said.

Manali in Kullu district received the highest rainfall of 127.4 mm, followed by Dharamshala (125.2 mm), Una (124.2 mm), Gagret (118 mm),  Jogindernagar (115 mm), Sujanpur (112 mm), Bharwain (110 mm), Nadaun (104 mm), Baijnath (97 mm), Kangra (97.5 mm).

Shimla recorded rainfall of 47.1 mm, followed by Kufri (46 mm), Paonta Sahib (35 mm) and Kalpa (24.2 mm).

Upper hills in the state, including tribal Lahaul-Spiti district, received snowfall.

Rohtang Pass received over 1.5 feet of snow.

Heavy rains and snowfall has brought down the temperature in the state.

As per the data, Kalpa was the coldest place with nine degrees Celsius temperature. The minimum temperature in Dalhousie was 10.1 degrees Celsius followed by Kufri (10.6), Manali (10.8), Shimla (13) and Mandi (14.2).              

The maximum temperature in Nahan was 26.3 degrees Celsius, 25.2 in Mandi, 25 in Paonta Sahib, 24.8 in Una, 23.6 in Dharamshala, 21.9 in Sundernagar, 16 in Manali and 15.9 degree Celsius in Shimla.

The weatherman has forecast heavy rain and snowfall in upper hills till September 24. With inputs from PTI