New Delhi: Incessant rain and landslides have killed 13 more people in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, while the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red and orange warnings in these two states.
Heavy rains and landslides caused by heavy rains claimed the lives of 12 people in Himachal Pradesh, while another was killed in the Pauri district of Uttarakhand on Wednesday. More than 400 other roads have been blocked off and some homes damaged, authorities said.
RED WARNING IN 6 DISTRICTS
The IMD has issued a red alert, predicting “heavy to very heavy rain accompanied by bursts of extreme rain” in six counties in the state, including Shimla, over the next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, a moderate to high flash flood warning has been extended to nine districts: Shimla, Sirmaur, Kangra, Chamba, Mandi, Hamirpur, Solan, Bilaspur and Kullu.
A red alert has been issued in areas of Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur districts. The meteorological agency also issued an orange warning, forecasting heavy to very heavy rain on Thursday.
Due to heavy rain, all schools and colleges were closed for two days from Wednesday in Shimla, Mandi and Solan districts.
Hundreds of vehicles were stranded in the Kullu district on Wednesday after the Kullu-Mandi road was damaged by torrential rain. The alternative route through Pandoh was also damaged. Cleanup work is underway.
According to data from the state’s emergency operations center, affected roads include Highway 21 (Mandi-Kullu Road) and NH 154 (Mandi-Pathankot).
A total of 709 roads in the state are now closed after three heavy rains left a trail of death and destruction. Many houses were also cracked and people had to evacuate as a precaution.
At least 120 people have been killed this month due to rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh, while a total of 238 people have died and 40 are still missing since the monsoon in the state began on January 24/6. In an emergency, the county’s disaster management center can be reached at toll-free 1077, officials said.
Roads Are Blocked, Rivers Rise In Uttarakhand
Water levels on the Pindar River and Pranmati tributary in Chamoli district have risen again after heavy rains in Uttarakhand, threatening to flood areas along the river.
Due to continuous rain in most areas of the country, rivers and streams were flooded and many roads including the national highway were blocked with traffic, affecting normal life.
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