Cold wave hits Himachal, first snowfall of the season in Kinnaur; flood alert in four districts

The effect of monsoon is still there in Himachal Pradesh. Clouds are raining heavily in many parts of the state. Rain has been continuing in the capital Shimla and surrounding areas since last night. At the same time, the first snowfall of the season has occurred in the high hills of the tribal district Kinnaur. About two inches of snowfall has occurred in Nardum of Chitkul, a border village of Kinnaur district. Due to this weather condition, the temperature of the hilly areas has decreased and cold has knocked in. Cold is being felt in Shimla and Manali in the morning and evening.

The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert of heavy rain with lightning in plains and medium altitude areas today. A flood warning has been issued in four districts Kullu, Shimla, Kinnaur and Sirmaur during the next 24 hours i.e. till 5:30 am on 14 September. In view of this, people have been advised to take precautions. The administration has advised people not to go to landslide prone areas and to keep distance from rivers and streams. The weather will remain clear from 15 to 18 September in Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur and other high mountain areas, while there are chances of rain in other parts.

Traffic on 117 roads came to a halt due to landslides, maximum 81 roads were closed in Shimla

Heavy rains have once again increased people’s troubles. Many roads have been blocked due to landslides at various places. According to the State Emergency Operations Centre, till Friday morning 117 roads in the state are blocked due to landslides. The maximum number of 81 roads are closed in Shimla district. Apart from this, 21 roads are blocked in Mandi, 10 in Hamirpur, 3 in Kullu, 1 each in Bilaspur and Sirmaur. Apart from this, 34 transformers are also out of order. Out of these, power is out due to the breakdown of nine transformers each in Mandi and Shimla districts, eight in Kullu, six in Kinnaur and two in Chamba.

303 people lost their lives in accidents during monsoon season, 740 houses were damaged

The monsoon has caused heavy devastation in the state. In the last 78 days of the monsoon season, 303 people have died in rain-related accidents. Of these, 137 people died in road accidents and 165 in other rain-related accidents. According to the report of the State Emergency Operations Center, in the last two and a quarter months, 23 people lost their lives due to cloudburst, 29 due to drowning, eight due to flood, six due to landslide, 18 due to electric shock and 42 due to slipping from height. There were 94 incidents of cloudburst, flood and landslide in the monsoon season.

Report: UK Sharma