Himachal Floods 2023: Supply Of Essential Items Hit As Highways, Roads Closed

People are in panic in Himachal Pradesh due to due to heavy rains and frequent incidents like landslides, rock slides, cloud bursts. Meanwhile, light sunshine has come out at some places on the mountains today on WEdnesday.

IMD Shimla meteorologist Bui Lal told that today there may be rain in some areas of eight districts Chamba, Mandi, Shimla, Bilaspur, Solan, Sirmaur and Kangra. Monsoon is forecast to weaken significantly from Thursday.

15 houses vacated in in Krishna Nagar  

About 15 houses in Krishna Nagar have been vacated and the families have been shifted to safe places. Several others have vacated their homes themselves fearing slides due to incessant rains.

Two persons were killed and at least eight houses were razed to the ground and a slaughter house was buried under debris in a major landslide at Krishnanagar locality in the heart of Shimla city on Tuesday evening.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Tuesday that a nearly 157 per cent surge in rainfall over the past few days has resulted in extensive damage across Himachal Pradesh and about 60 people have been killed in the last three days

So far 13 bodies have been recovered from Summer Hill, five bodies from Fagli and two from Krishna Nagar. Ten bodies are still feared buried in the debris of the Shiv temple that collapsed on Monday..

950 roads closed at various places

In the last three days, 55 people have died in incidents related to heavy rains, landslides and cloud bursts. More than 950 roads, which are called the lifelines of the mountains, have been closed at various places. Due to this, transport services have been disrupted on more than 2100 routes. It has become difficult for people to move from one place to another.

Landslides happening on highways

Chandigarh-Manali, Shimla-Dharamshala, Paonta-Shillai and Mandi National Highways are also closed due to landslides at many places. Highways were definitely restored at some places. But, landslides are happening again and again on the entire highway. The Chandigarh-Manali four-lane is closed for five days. However, the movement of small vehicles has been restored this morning through Via Kataula.

Supply of food items badly hit

Due to the closure of the roads, the supply of food items of daily consumption like milk, curd, bread, butter, vegetables has not reached in many areas since three days. It could not be supplied in most parts of Kinnaur, Shimla, Upper Shimla, Kullu, Manali, Lahaul Spiti, Chamba.

NDRF, Army, IAF evacuating trapped people in Kangra

Meanwhile, in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, the situation is very bad due to release of water from Pong dam. Along with the NDRF, now the Indian Army and Air Force have also taken the lead in evacuating the people trapped in Fatehpur and Indora of the district.

Deputy Commissioner Kangra Dr. Nipun Jindal himself is inspecting the relief and rescue operations by visiting the spot. He said that the administration had received information about many people being stranded in the adjoining Fatehpur and Indora areas due to release of excessive water from the Pong dam. Due to the high water level, it was not possible to evacuate people through boats.

283 deaths so far in current monsoon season

During the current monsoon season, 283 people have died in the state, while 290 people have been injured. 32 people are missing after being hit by landslides and flash flood. So far, 1376 houses have collapsed in the state, while 7935 houses have been damaged. Many of these houses are such that they have been evacuated. At the same time, 270 shops, 216 labor sheds and 2727 gaushalas have also been damaged.

Government and non-government property worth Rs 7170 cfrore has been destroyed so far in the monsoon. Jal Shakti Department alone has incurred a loss of Rs 1668.68 crore, Public Works Department Rs 2248.69 crore, Electricity Board Rs 1505.73 crore.