Multiple cloudbursts and torrential rain continued across Himachal Pradesh on Monday, resulting in flash floods. One of the worst-hit routes is the Shimla-Sunni-Karsog highway, which has been completely blocked near Devidhar, about 35 kilometres from the state capital Shimla, stranding dozens of vehicles and commuters.
Long queues of vehicles were seen piling up on both sides of the landslide site.
Some people went missing in multiple cloudbursts overnight in Karsog division in Mandi district.
The cloudbursts triggered flash floods that washed away many houses.
At least 41 people have been rescued by the district administration and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
According to reports, 10 houses and a bridge were swept away by floods in Kuklah. In Mandi district, the 16-MW Patikari Hydro-Electric Power Project has also been washed away.
The run-of-the-river power project is built on the Bakhli Khad, a left-bank tributary of the Beas river.
Owing to the heavy inflow of water, 150,000 cusecs of water have been released from the Pandoh Dam.
The situation turned critical as the downpour in the Beas upper catchment led to a sharp increase in inflow at Pandoh Dam.
Locals and tourists have been strictly warned to stay away from the riverbanks.
The 126-MW Larji Hydro Electric Project in Kullu also saw an abnormal rise in water discharge.
Owing to heavy rain, Mandi District Magistrate Apoorv Devgan ordered the closure of all schools and educational institutions in the district on Tuesday as a precautionary step.
On Monday, a five-storey building collapsed in the suburbs of Shimla city. However, no lives were lost, as residents had vacated the building.
The state suffered a loss of Rs 75.69 crore till Monday due to torrential rain that has occurred across the state in the past 10 days with some reported deaths due to flash floods, cloudbursts, and drowning, etc. Also, 259 link roads across the state remain closed, while 614 distribution transformers and 144 water supply schemes across the state remain disrupted.
(With inputs from agencies)
from National https://ift.tt/4S2AUI5