Himachal weather: Flashfloods hit Manali-Leh highway, 77 roads blocked across state after landslides
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Intense rainfall lashed various parts of Himachal Pradesh on Thursday (July 5, 2024) night, leading to significant disruptions in the state.
By 10 am on Friday, traffic had been suspended on 77 roads due to landslides, with Mandi district being the most affected.
- Additionally, 236 power transformers and 19 water supply schemes have been impacted by the adverse weather conditions.
The Manali-Leh road was particularly affected, with flashfloods caused by continuous glacier melting around midnight on Thursday.
Approximately 7 km from Jingjing Bar, two trucks and a bike travelling towards Manali from Leh were trapped in debris. Soldiers from the Border Road Organisation (BRO) managed to rescue the biker after considerable effort.
Despite working through the night, the BRO restored traffic on the road by 10 am.
The Meteorological Centre in Shimla has forecast an increase in monsoon activity, with heavy to very heavy rain expected in Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Chamba, Mandi, Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur districts.
The rain activity is predicted to decrease from July 8. During this period, the average minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to remain below normal.
An orange alert for very heavy rain has been issued for several parts of the state and the weather is anticipated to stay adverse until July 11.
Rainfall recorded on Thursday night included Palampur (128 mm), Kataula (110.2 mm), Baijnath (95 mm), Jogindernagar (64 mm), Mandi (40.4 mm), Kothi (36 mm), Kufri (33.2 mm), Shilaru (32.5 mm), Kotkhai (32.3 mm), Dharamshala (26.2 mm), Manali (22 mm) and Khadrala (21.6 mm). In Kangra district’s Chachian city, residents blocked roads with trees due to rainwater entering their homes.
The rains have been heavy in Kullu and Lahaul since Friday morning, bringing relief to farmers and gardeners after about five hours of rain.
However, the increased water levels in rivers and canals have led the district administration to advise locals and tourists to avoid these areas.
The rainfall is expected to benefit apple, pear, plum and Japanese fruit crops, enhancing their size and juiciness.
