16 cloudbursts, three flashfloods wreak havoc, cause Rs 356 crore loss
At least five persons lost their lives while 16 were missing and five injured in 16 cloudbursts and three flashfloods as a result of incessant rains that wreaked havoc across the state during the past 24 hours. Also, over the past 11 days, the state has suffered a cumulative loss of Rs 356.67 crore as a result of heavy rainfall.
As per the Revenue Department, at least 406 roads in the state remain blocked, including 248 in Mandi, 55 in Kangra, 37 in Kullu, 32 in Shimla, 21 in Sirmaur, six in Chamba, four in Una, two in Solan and one each in Hamirpur and Kinnaur districts. Also, 1,515 power distribution transformers, including 994 in Mandi district, and 171 water supply schemes have been disrupted in the state.
Himachal on Tuesday witnessed a few spells of heavy rain. Sandhole in Mandi district received the highest of 223.6 mm of rain, followed by Mandi (216.8 mm), Pandoh (215 mm), Karsog ( 160.2 mm), Palampur in Kangra district (143 mm), Chopal in Shimla district (139.8 mm), Gohar in Mandi (125 mm), Narkanda (67.5 mm), Kufri (65 mm), Shimla (55.4), Dharamsala (29.2 mm), Sundernagar (26.6 mm), Nahan (24.8 mm) and Bilaspur (15.4 mm).
Another flashflood warning has been issued for Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, Kullu, Hamirpur and Mandi districts for the next 24 hours, resulting in surface runoff and inundation at some fully saturated soils and in low-lying areas of these districts.
As per the state’s Meteorological Department, heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely to continue across the state till July 7. The department has issued an orange warning of heavy rain for July 2 to 7.
Shimla, the state’s capital, recorded 21.6°C maximum temperature while prominent tourist destinations Dharamsala, Manali, Dalhousie and Kasauli recorded 27°C, 25.1°C, 19.7°C and 23.6°C, respectively.
The maximum temperature in Solan was 24.5°C, Mandi (25.6°C), Kangra (24.8°C), Chamba (28.1°C), Bilaspur (26.4°C), Kalpa (22.3°C), Kufri (18.6°C), Nahan (26.8°C), Bhuntar (28.5°C), Sundernagar (25.7°C), Narkanda (18.7°C) and Reckong Peo (27.5°C).
At 31.5 °C, Una was the hottest place in the state while Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti was the coldest as it recorded 12.6°C minimum temperature.
Himachal Tribune