More rains predicted in Himachal Pradesh

SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh has witnessed 48 deaths during the ongoing monsoon season due to heavy rainfall, landslide, sky lightening, fire and cloud burst. Private property has suffered a loss of Rs 28.77 crore, and loss to public property so far has been calculated at Rs 862.40 crore.


Meanwhile, more rains have been predicted in the hill state till August 30.

Between July 1 and August 24, 41 people have been killed due to landslide and house collapse incidents, two in cloud burst, four because of heavy rain and one person was drowned.

As on Saturday, two roads were blocked in Ghumarwin area of Bilaspur district. In Kinnaur district, link road from Choling to Meeru and Shongtong to Purbani are still blocked. In Kullu district, eight roads in Nirmand division are blocked.

Two cowsheds were damaged at Sarkaghat Sub Division, while another two got damaged at Jogindernagar Sub Division of Mandi district . In Sirmaur district , 16 roads are still blocked, including nine on Shillai division, five in Sangrah division and two in Rajgarh division.

According to Shimla Meteorological Centre, from Sunday onwards till August 27 and on August 29 and 30, lower and middle hills of state will receive rain and thundershowers at few places. At the same time period, upper hills will receive rain and thundershowers at isolated places.

On August 28 while lower and high hills will receive rain and thundershowers at isolated places, middle hills will receive the rain and thundershowers at few places.

Chief Engineer, Public Works Department (South Zone) Lalit Bhushan on Saturday visited Kupvi area of Chopal Assembly segment of Shimla district to take stock of the situation arisen due to massive landslides on roads due to torrential rains. He said that out of 95 roads in the Chopal division, 82 have been opened for vehicular traffic and remaining 13 roads will be made operative in two or three days.

Lalit Bhushan said that initially damages about Rs 15 crore have been estimated to roads and bridges of Public Works department in Chopal Assembly constituency. Adequate men and machinery has been pressed into service in the area to open all the roads so that people do not face any inconvenience.

On Friday he had visited Nerwa area of Chopal constituency and gave necessary directions to officials of the department for opening the roads at the earliest. He inspected roads up to Fedaj with the officials and said that Sainj- Chopal to Nerwa-Fedaj road (70 Kms) is open for buses. He said that a portion near Nerwa Bazar is risky in rains and heavy damages have been caused at Ranabiar, four kilometers from Nerwa. He said that nallah channelization near Ranabiar was in progress to prevent more damages to houses.

He said that PWD was working round the clock for ensuring comfortable travelling to the people of the state.