SHIMLA
Monsoon havoc continues in the state. After heavy rains in Ani of Kullu district, two houses collapsed in Patarna village due to a landslide, in which two women were buried; one of whom has died, while the search for the other is on. In Khadvi village of Kullu itself, 3 houses have come under the grip of a landslide. Due to a cloudburst in Lippa village of the Pooh subdivision of the tribal district Kinnaur on Friday morning, a sudden flood in Bhogti drain caused heavy damage.
Two laborers, who are residents of Jammu and Kashmir, got trapped in this flood. Fortunately, the local people immediately rescued both the laborers and, after first aid, admitted them to Rekong Peo Regional Hospital of Kinnaur. The fertile land of the village was also destroyed in this incident. The situation has still not become normal due to heavy rains in Kullu and Chamba districts.
Roads, electricity, and drinking water supply have been badly affected in Chamba district. A car has been washed away in the flood of Chhanot Nallah in the Ani subdivision of Kullu district. On the other hand, National Highway 305 Aut-Luhri road has been blocked due to landslides for several days. The district administration has declared a holiday in all educational institutions in Manali, Ani, and Nirmand subdivisions today. Life has been affected due to torrential rains in Sirmaur district last night, and rivers and streams are in spate. Many roads in the district have been blocked. A holiday has been declared in all educational institutions in view of the safety of schoolchildren in the district. The old National Highway in Balh Valley of the Mandi district has been submerged, due to which there are serious problems in the movement of vehicles and common people.
Thousands of Mani Mahesh pilgrims are stranded due to broken roads in Bharmour, a tribal area of Chamba district. The local administration and police team are engaged in rescuing the pilgrims. Here, 11 devotees have died in just 4 days, between 25 and 28 August. Among them, 3 are residents of Punjab, 1 of U.P., and 5 of Chamba, while 2 bodies could not be identified. Their death is being attributed to falling of stones and lack of oxygen. So far 22 devotees have died during this yatra which started on 16th August.
On the other hand, Bharmour administration has sent 3 HRTC buses carrying 150 devotees from Kalsui to Pathankot. On Friday morning, 5 thousand devotees left for Chamba on foot from Bharmour. The State Disaster Management Authority has said that due to communication and road disruption in Chamba district, the Mani Mahesh Yatra has been postponed for the time being. Helpline numbers have been issued to help the stranded pilgrims. The contact numbers are 98166-98166, 01899-226950, 226951, 226952, and 226953. In case of emergency, one can contact the toll-free number 1070. Telephone contact numbers are 0177-2629688, 2629939, 2629439, and 2628940.
The department has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain in Kangra, Chamba, Kullu for the next 2 days, i.e., 30 and 31 August, while a yellow alert for heavy rain will continue on 1 and 2 September. The weather will remain bad on 3 and 4 September as well, but no warning has been issued.
Due to continuous rain, 2 NHs and 633 roads were closed till Friday morning, but their number has increased in the evening. Now 2 national highways, NH 03 and NH 305, are closed in the state, while 914 roads are blocked. 925 electricity transformers and 266 drinking water schemes are also affected.
So far in this monsoon, 317 people have died in the state, 40 people are missing, and 374 are injured. In this monsoon, there have been 90 incidents of flash floods, 87 incidents of landslides, and 42 incidents of cloudburst in the state.
