Himachal rivers in spate, NH-21 and Manali-Keylong road blocked

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By: ML Verma

Shimla: Following inclement weather conditions, a high alert has been sounded in Himachal Pradesh as most rivers and their tributaries are flowing above the danger mark after heavy rains.

Shimla deputy commissioner BM Nanta told HimVani that an alert was announced in Kullu, Mandi, Kinnaur and Shimla districts as torrential rains during the past three days increased water level in Beas river and its tributaries, including the Parvati and Tirthan. He said an alert has been sounded in villages and towns along the Beas and people have been advised to move to safer places.

He also said that water level in Beas has increased so much that at some places the river is touching the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway-21. Reports received here said that NH-21 was blocked at Aut as the river has submerged a stretch of the highway.

A report from Lahaul-Spiti stated that Manali-Keylong road has been blocked following landslides at many places as the area near Rohtang Pass received incessant rainfall. According to district information officer Shair Singh, landslides at several places in the district blocked the Gramphu-Kaza road near Chhatru, and the Keylong-Udaipur road at Kala nalah. A Scorpio car carrying four people was washed away in Pagal Nala near Spiti but all the four persons in the car managed to reach the shore.

Kinnaur superintendent of police Yashbir Singh Pathania said that NH-22 was also closed at various points in between Rampur and Recong-Peo and beyond Recong-Peo as many landslides occurred and trees got uprooted due to excessive rain in the tribal district.

Most major link roads in Kinnaur have been closed for traffic. The highways at Vangtoo and Malling are the worst affected. Road connectivity between Kinnaur and Kaza in Lahaul and Spiti district has also been hampered. A tributary of the Yamuna called Pabbar has changed its course near Rohru town, cutting into the banks at some places. Himachal Pradesh has been experiencing torrential rainfall following the onset of monsoon since July 5. The incessant rain has also caused massive landslides in upper Shimla, hampering vehicular traffic.

According to the Met office, Shimla received 76.8 mm of rain since Tuesday, Solan 90.5 mm, Nahan 76.7 mm, Una 70.2 mm, Dharamsala 60.2 mm, Bhuntar 47.9 mm, Sundernagar 45.9 mm and Kalpa 24 mm of rainfall.

Edited by Nandita Aron

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