50 Roads Closed in Himachal Pradesh; Yellow Alert Issued for Heavy Rain and Storms in Four Districts
Shimla, 19th September 2024: Due to heavy rains and waterlogging in Himachal Pradesh, 50 roads have been closed and 63 power supply schemes have been disrupted. Similar weather conditions are expected to persist in the state over the next few days. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for heavy rains and storms in several districts.
A yellow alert has been issued for rain and storms in Kangra, Chamba, Kullu, and Mandi districts today (19th September). Heavy rain was reported in Shimla and other areas on Tuesday night (18th September). Continuous rainfall in Shimla has also caused a drop in temperature. On Wednesday, Shimla recorded 0.5 mm of rainfall, while Kalpa received 18.0 mm. Una reported the highest temperature at 34.8°C, and Keylong recorded the lowest at 8.4°C.
The national highway near Nigulsari in the tribal district of Kinnaur, which had been blocked, has now been reopened for all vehicles. On Tuesday afternoon, about 70 meters of the road caved in at the Nigulsari block point. To restore traffic, machines were deployed on both sides, and a new road was constructed by 11 pm, successfully connecting both ends.
According to the State Operational Emergency Centre, as of Wednesday morning, 21 roads were closed in Shimla, 13 in Mandi, 10 in Kangra, five in Kullu, and one in Sirmaur district. The local meteorological center had issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms and lightning in isolated areas of six districts on Wednesday.
Officials reported that 172 people have died in rain-related incidents in the state since the onset of the monsoon on 27th June, with 30 people still missing. The estimated damage to the state stands at ₹1,327 crore.
