The Newz Radar
SHIMLA: Amidst a red alert for heavy rainfall, Himachal Pradesh continues to bear the brunt of incessant rain, leading to widespread havoc across the state. Five persons lost their lives on Sunday as the downpour wreaked havoc in various parts. In Shimla’s Kumarsain, a house collapsed, claiming the lives of three occupants, while a woman in Kullu and a man in Rampur also died due to the adverse weather conditions.
A shop was engulfed by floodwaters at Bahang in Kullu district, exacerbating the devastation caused by the rising water levels of the Beas, Parvati and Tirthan rivers. Mandi town, too, experienced the wrath of the swollen Beas river, leading to massive destruction. With landslides becoming a recurring occurrence, numerous highways remain closed, hindering transportation and connectivity throughout the region.
The Lahaul region witnessed fresh snowfall and torrential rain, causing significant disruptions. The Shimla to Manali road and the Naggar to Manali route via the left bank of the Beas are both closed to traffic, leaving many stranded. Additionally, a car was stuck at Byasa Mor in Kullu due to adverse road conditions.
Rescue operations have been launched in various areas, including at Madhavani in Kumarsain of Shimla district, where the three members of a family tragically their lives after their house collapsed. In Pandoh, six persons were trapped amid the floods, but the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rescued them.
The severity of the situation has prompted authorities to evacuate residents from the danger-prone areas, such as Bahang, where three shops were washed away in the surging Beas river. Mandi’s Panchvaktra temple is now submerged, and the Manalsu rivulet’s flood has disrupted the city’s drinking water scheme, exacerbating the water crisis for the local population.
Efforts are underway to mitigate the impact of landslides and clear debris from highways, with Public Works Department employees actively engaged in the task. However, challenges persist as stones continue to fall along the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway 205.
