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Himachal Pradesh Weather: Heavy rains battered parts of Himachal Pradesh, with 135 roads in the state closed due to landslides and floods. Damage due to heavy rains, landslides and floods was reported in Lahaul and Spiti, Chamba and Sirmaur districts, but no casualties were reported. Lahaul and Spiti police have issued warnings to residents and travellers to take extra care and not cross the Jhaharman Nala river, where water levels are rising rapidly. The regional meteorological office also issued an “orange” alert, warning of heavy to torrential rains with thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places in five districts of Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur on Saturday, and a “yellow” alert, warning of continued heavy rains across the state until August 16.
Heavy rains lashed parts of the state with Nahan in Sirmau receiving the highest rainfall of 168.3 mm since Friday evening, followed by Sunderhal 106.4 mm, Nagrotasurian 93.2 mm, Dharakuan 67 mm, Jubalhati 62.2 mm and Kandaghat 45.6 mm. According to the state Emergency Operation Centre, 135 roads were closed, including 42 in Sirmau, 37 in Kullu, 29 in Mandi, 17 in Shimla, 5 in Kangra, 4 in Kinnaur, and 1 in Lahaul and Spiti districts, while 24 power and 56 water supply facilities were disrupted due to the rains. The meteorological department also warned of low to moderate risk of flash floods in isolated places of Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmau and Shimla districts till Sunday morning. The weather department warned that strong winds and ponding of water in low-lying areas could cause damage to plantations, crops, fragile buildings and ‘kutcha’ houses.
Meanwhile, rescue operations continued on Saturday to search for around 30 people missing after heavy rains triggered flash floods in Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts at midnight on July 31, but no significant progress was made. Officials said 28 bodies have been recovered so far in the tragedy. With an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rains issued in Hamirpur district on Saturday, Deputy Commissioner Amarjit Singh appealed to residents to take precautionary measures and avoid going near rivers and streams.
He also asked people not to take shelter under trees during the bad weather and to maintain a safe distance from power lines. Officials added that more than 100 people were killed in rain-related incidents between June 27 and August 9 and the state suffered losses of around Rs 84.2 billion. The state’s rainfall deficit during the monsoon, which began on June 1, stood at 28 per cent as of August 10, with Himachal Pradesh receiving 328.8 mm of rainfall against an average of 455.5 mm. Kukumseri in the tribal districts of Lahaul and Spiti recorded the lowest night temperatures with a minimum of 13.2 degrees Celsius, while Una recorded the highest daytime temperature with a maximum of 33.7 degrees Celsius.
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