NH 505 blocked, Rivers swell as Monsoon pounds Himachal
NH 505 blocked, Rivers swell as Monsoon pounds Himachal
Shimla, July 10,
The southwest monsoon continued to pound Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, triggering landslides, flash floods, waterlogging and damage to public and private property across several districts, while authorities issued fresh advisories asking people to stay away from rivers and landslide-prone areas.
Normal life was disrupted in Kinnaur, Kullu, Mandi, Bilaspur and Shimla districts as incessant rainfall since the last 24 hours led to road blockades, rolling boulders, flash floods and rising river levels.
In tribal Kinnaur district, continuous rainfall since Thursday morning triggered heavy shooting stones and falling boulders at the vulnerable Maling Nala, forcing authorities to suspend traffic on National Highway-505 as a precautionary measure.
The highway remained blocked after large rocks and debris repeatedly crashed onto the road. The district administration and border roads authorities are closely monitoring the situation and restoration work will begin once the area is declared safe.
In Shimla, several parked vehicles were damaged after a Municipal Corporation parking shed near Aggarwal Dharamshala at Lakkar Bazaar collapsed during the afternoon following heavy rain. No casualties were reported, but the incident highlighted the vulnerability of ageing structures amid persistent monsoon showers.
Heavy rainfall after 2 p.m. lashed many parts of the state, inundating roads, triggering flash floods in seasonal streams and exposing poor urban drainage systems. Water accumulated on major roads, slowing traffic, while overflowing nullahs damaged several parked vehicles and roadside infrastructure in different towns.
In Kullu district, the management of the 126 MW Larji Hydroelectric Project issued a precautionary advisory as the water level in its reservoir continued to rise. The project authorities said a machine trip would result in the release of nearly 100 cumecs of additional water into the Beas River.
They warned that if inflows increase further, the radial gates of the dam may have to be opened, causing a sudden rise in the river’s water level.
The district administration appealed to residents, tourists, workers and people living along the Beas River to maintain a safe distance from the riverbanks. Hotel owners, guesthouse and homestay operators, campsite managers and taxi drivers have also been asked to discourage visitors from venturing close to the river.
Hooters and sirens will be sounded before any discharge, while public announcement vehicles have been deployed to alert people in vulnerable areas.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall at isolated places in several districts on July 10, warning of landslides, flash floods, waterlogging and disruption of essential services. However, the weather office indicated that the southwest monsoon is likely to weaken gradually over the next two days, which may bring some relief after the current spell of intense rainfall.
Despite the expected weakening, authorities have advised people not to lower their guard, as saturated slopes remain vulnerable to landslides and rivers and streams may continue to flow at dangerous levels.
Disaster management teams have been placed on alert while district administrations are keeping a close watch on weather developments and vulnerable locations.
The continuing spell of monsoon rain has once again underlined the fragile nature of Himachal Pradesh’s mountainous terrain, where heavy precipitation can rapidly trigger landslides, flash floods and infrastructure damage, posing serious risks to residents and tourists alike.
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