Himachal flash floods: Chandigarh-Manali NH reopens after nearly 24 hours

Shimla: The Chandigarh-Manali national highway was restored for traffic on Monday night after remaining closed for almost 24 hours owing to landslides and flash floods, officials said.

Hundreds of commuters, including tourists, were stranded in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district as the highway was blocked since Sunday evening.

The 70-km Mandi-Pandoh-Kullu stretch of the highway was blocked at Khotinallah near Aut, about 40 km from Mandi town, following flash floods while the Mandi-Pandoh stretch was blocked nearly 6 Miles after a landslide.

Light to moderate rains continued to lash several parts of Himachal Pradesh and the MeT office has issued a warning of heavy rainfall, thunderstorm and lightning at isolated places on June 28 and 29 and thunderstorms and lightning on June 30 and July 1.

Bertin in Bilaspur received 66.2 mm of rain followed by Mashobra (46.5 mm ), Nahan and Gohar (28.4 mm each), Kasauli (24 mm), Shimla and Poanta sahib (23 mm each).

A total of 116 roads were closed in the state following heavy rains, while 70 water supply schemes and 106 power transformers were disrupted.

Principal Secretary (Revenue), Onkar Chand Sharma said tourists have been advised to avoid venturing into rivers and drains and download the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) app on their mobiles to get area-specific information and follow the guidelines.

Nine people have been killed in rain-related incidents, including landslides, and drowning, in the state so far while 14 sustained injuries, according to the data shared by the state emergency operation centre.

The state has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 102 crore in rain-related incidents. The Jal Shakti Vibhag suffered maximum damage of Rs 73.68 crore followed by the Public Works Department (PWD) which suffered a loss of Rs 27.79 crore, according to the data.

There are about 30 road stretches prone to frequent landslides in the state.

On Sunday, flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in Solan and Hamirpur districts and heavy rains in Shimla, Mandi and Kullu killed two people, damaged crops, homes and vehicles, and washed away livestock.

The local weather office has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain, thunderstorm and lightning at isolated places on Monday and Tuesday and a yellow alert for heavy rain, thunderstorm and lightning on June 28 and 29.

With inputs from PTI