- Four lives lost in separate incidents due to monsoon rains.
- Around 49 roads closed, NH-5 blocked by massive landslide.
- IMD issues orange alert for heavy rainfall until July 5.
Himachal Pradesh Rains: With the arrival of the monsoon in Himachal Pradesh, heavy rainfall has brought relief from the heat but has also disrupted normal life across the state. Four people, including two women, lost their lives in separate incidents in Shimla, Kangra, Lahaul and Spiti, and Chamba districts. The India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places until July 5.
The National Highway-5 (NH-5), also known as the Hindustan-Tibet Road, was blocked near Choling in Kinnaur district on Friday morning after heavy rain triggered a massive landslide around 6 am.
A large amount of debris slid down the steep hills near Merut Nallah, leaving two vehicles trapped in the muck. The Ribba-Kanda link road was also blocked after the Ribba drain overflowed due to flash floods.
On Thursday, light snowfall was recorded at the Rohtang, Baralacha, and Shinkula passes, while several parts of the state received rainfall. Over the past 24 hours, 49 roads have been closed due to heavy rain and landslides, while power supply has been disrupted after 42 transformers developed faults.
The rainfall has, however, brought relief to farmers who had been waiting to begin sowing paddy and maize crops.
Nine Deaths Reported Since Monsoon Arrived
According to the State Disaster Management Department, nine people have lost their lives from various causes since the onset of the monsoon in Himachal Pradesh.
Of the total fatalities, four people died after falling from heights, one drowned, one died due to electrocution, and three others died from different causes. The department also reported damage to seven mud houses so far.
Heavy rain in Chamba district's Bharmour area on Thursday morning caused the Siunr drain to overflow, washing away nearly 60 feet of the road leading to Greema. As a result, vehicular movement on the Holi-Siunr-Greema road has been suspended.
In another incident, a 60-year-old woman died after suffering an electric shock near Nirsu village in the Piplidhar area of Rampur subdivision in Shimla district on Thursday.
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According to the IMD, an orange alert has been issued for heavy rainfall in parts of Kangra and Mandi districts on Friday, while a yellow alert remains in effect for parts of Kullu, Shimla, Sirmaur, and Una districts.
The weather department said rainfall and snowfall over the higher reaches have led to fluctuations in temperatures across the state. Daytime temperatures have changed by up to six degrees Celsius, while minimum temperatures have varied by one to five degrees Celsius.