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Heavy rains have caused significant disruption in Himachal Pradesh, leading to the closure of 115 roads. The Shimla meteorological office issued an orange alert on Thursday, warning of heavy to very heavy rains with thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places until Friday.
In Mandi, cracks have appeared on a section of the Chandigarh-Manali four-lane road between Mandi and Pandoh. This stretch has started sinking, prompting officials to restrict traffic to one-way since Wednesday. Locals have raised concerns about the quality of construction, noting that a retaining wall built at considerable expense has sunk by about two feet.
Impact on Infrastructure
The state emergency operation centre reported that 107 roads in Mandi, four in Chamba, three in Solan, and one in Kangra are closed for vehicular traffic. Additionally, 212 transformers are disrupted across the state due to the heavy rains.
Project manager Raj Shekar mentioned that tarring work is being carried out urgently at the affected spot. Meanwhile, several trees were uprooted in Shimla, which received 84 mm of rain since Wednesday evening. Debris from drains was scattered on roads, adding to the chaos.
Weather Warnings and Predictions
The MeT department also issued a yellow warning for heavy rains on Saturday and Sunday (July 6 and 7). They cautioned about potential damage to plantations, horticulture, standing crops, vulnerable structures, kutcha houses, and huts due to strong winds and rain. There could also be traffic disruptions and waterlogging in low-lying areas.
Sundernagar recorded the highest rainfall with 111 mm, followed by Palampur with 109.4 mm. Other notable rainfall figures include Gohar with 80 mm, Solan with 79.8 mm, Mashobra with 78.5 mm, Jogindernagar with 75 mm, Baijnath with 70 mm, Mandi with 55.2 mm, Narkanda with 48 mm, and Kangra with 44.2 mm.
Temperature Variations
Narkanda in Shimla district experienced the coldest night with a minimum temperature of 13.4 degrees Celsius. In contrast, Bhuntar in Kullu recorded the highest daytime temperature on Wednesday at 35.6 degrees Celsius.
The widespread rain has significantly impacted daily life across Himachal Pradesh. Authorities are working tirelessly to restore normalcy while keeping an eye on further weather developments.
