Heavy snowfall, rains trigger landslides in Himachal Pradesh, key roads blocked

Shimla, Feb 28 (PTI) Heavy snowfall and rains in Himachal Pradesh triggered landslides and blocked key roads and national highways on Friday, throwing normal life out of gear in many areas.

Intermittent heavy snowfall and rains for the third day have blocked highways. About 200 roads have been closed due to heavy snowfall across the state, cutting off several areas in Kullu, Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Chamba and Shimla districts from the rest of the state, officials said.

Officials said all educational institutions, including colleges, have been closed in Chamba and Manali. However, the CBSE Board examinations would be held as scheduled.

There was a threat of avalanche over tribal areas and other higher reaches above 2,300 metres altitude, and people have been advised to restrict outdoor movement and take necessary precautions, they said.

The National Highway 5 (Hindustan-Tibet road) which was blocked at Narkanda in Shimla district has been opened. However, Deha-Chopal, the roads connecting the Dodra-Kwar area and the Theog-Hatkoti Highway at Kharapathar village — which is located at an elevation of 8,770 ft — were closed.

In Kullu, heavy rains inundated Akhara Bazaar and Gandhi Nagar areas. Gushing waters have spilt onto the roads, damaging vehicles parked on the roadside. The administration there has restricted vehicular movement beyond Nehru Kund due to fresh snowfall at Solang Nallah, Gulaba, Atal Tunnel and Rohtang.

Several houses have been flooded causing panic among the residents. Water from the swollen Gandhi Nagar Nallah spilt onto the roads and damaged a large number of vehicles parked on the roadside.

As many as 90 roads, including the Kullu-Manali left bank road, Jalori pass road and all roads beyond Nehru Kund have been closed.

People have been advised to stay away from river banks and nallahs and avoid outdoor activities, Kullu DC Torul Ravish said.

All educational institutions in Kullu district, including colleges and Anganbari, have been closed. Power supply in the district was also affected but it has been restored in the district, except in Manikaran and Manali areas.

According to police, Shashtri Nagar and Gandhi Nagar nallahs are overflowing and Subzi Mandi at Bhuntar was flooded. While some vehicles were stuck at the spots, the situation otherwise was normal.

Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said snow and rains during this time of the year were welcome but it has also aggravated the threat of an avalanche. He added that people should restrict outdoor activities and be alert, and he urged tourists to stay in a safe place till the situation returns to normal.

Negi said 218 roads and three national highways are currently blocked and 70 water and irrigation schemes have been disrupted.

Local administrations have been given a free hand to order the closures of institutions and take other steps as warranted by the situation, the minister said.

A landslide at Banala has disrupted the traffic on Manali-Kiratpur National Highway. Restoration work has yet to commence as shooting stones are hindering the work, police said. Several roads within the tribal valleys are also closed owing to snowfall and widespread rains.

As per a weather update, Kothi received the highest snowfall of 120 cm till 8.30 am, followed by Khadrala 115 cm, Keylong 75 cm, Kalpa 46 cm, Kukumseri 38.8 cm, Sangla 23.5 cm and Nichar and Moorang 15 cm each.

The lower and mid hills have also been marred by heavy rains. Seobagh was the wettest in the state with 113.2 mm rains, followed by Bhuntar 113.2 mm, Banjar 112.4 mm, Jogindernagar 112 mm, Salooni 109.3 mm, Palampur 99 mm, Chamba 97 mm, Baijnath 75 mm, Kangra 74 mm, Rohroo 70 mm, Kufri 59 mm and Shimla 54.5 mm.

The sky remained heavily overcast, and the meteorological station has issued an orange warning for heavy snowfall at isolated places in Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts and higher reaches of Chamba, Kullu, Shimla, Mandi, Sirmaur and Kangra districts.

Light to moderate rains have been predicted with spells of heavy rains at isolated places in Chamba, Kullu, Shimla, Mandi, Sirmaur and Kangra districts.

Fresh snowfall has brought cheers to the tourism industry, while farmers are happy that the rains have reduced the rainfall deficit of the winter season to 30 per cent.

The state has received 130.4 mm of rain from January 1 to February 28 against normal rainfall of 187.1 mm. While Kullu district has received 26 per cent excess rain, the deficit was reduced to 13 per cent in Mandi, 16 per cent in Shimla and 26 per cent in Kangra districts, according to officials.