Himachal Pradesh has been grappling with continuous rainfall over the past four days, resulting in the closure of over 190 roads across the state. The local weather office has issued a ‘yellow’ alert, warning of heavy rains till August 7, reported PTI. According to the state emergency operation centre, 191 roads have been rendered impassable for vehicular traffic. The affected roads include 79 in Mandi, 38 in Kullu, 35 in Chamba, 30 in Shimla, five in Kangra, and two each in Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts.
The relentless downpour has also disrupted essential services. A total of 294 transformers and 120 water supply schemes have been reported out of order. The Himachal Roads Transport Corporation (HRTC) has had to suspend bus services on 82 out of its 3,612 routes, as stated by HRTC Managing Director Rohan Chand Thakur on Friday.
The heavy showers have particularly impacted certain areas, with Jogindernagar recording the highest rainfall of 85 mm since Friday evening, followed by Gohar (80 mm), Shilaroo (76.4 mm), Poanta Sahib (67.2 mm), Palampur (57.2 mm), Dharamshala (55.6 mm), and Chopal (52 mm).
Since the onset of the monsoon on June 27, rain-related incidents have claimed 77 lives and inflicted losses amounting to Rs 655 crore, according to official reports.
Rescue and relief efforts by Army:
The road to one of the sites was blocked by a landslide approximately 2.5 kilometers short of the location. Troops were deployed on foot beyond the blockade, while the Army’s Engineer Task Force (ETF) repaired the road, making it operational again.
Despite some equipment being temporarily stuck at the blockade site, it reached the incident area after the road was cleared. An improvised footbridge was constructed, enabling rescue teams to access and evacuate civilians stranded on the far bank of a river.
A medical camp was established by the Army at the incident site, providing essential treatment and first aid to approximately 80-90 civilians. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, along with DC Shimla, was briefed by Army officials regarding the status of rescue operations.
Essential commodities, including food packets and medicines, were distributed to affected civilians. Additionally, a search and rescue dog team was deployed to Karcham to aid in the search operations. However, no dead bodies have been recovered so far due to high water levels and the likelihood of bodies being washed downstream.
The state continues to brace for further heavy rains, with efforts focused on ensuring the safety and relief of its residents amidst these challenging conditions.
(With inputs from PTI)