Shimla: Heavy damage has been caused in Himachal Pradesh due to continuous rain, floods and cloudburst for the last few days. The havoc of rain is not stopping yet. Once again, scary pictures of damage are coming from everywhere. Kullu, Kangra, Mandi Kinara and Lahaul Spiti districts are the most affected in the state. People who have become homeless in the rain are wandering from door to door. Due to the closure of roads in some districts, people have to walk several kilometers to reach their destination.
Chandigarh-Manali National Highway closed
Due to continuous heavy rains for the last few days, there is devastation in the state. Many people are stranded due to the closure of Chandigarh-Manali National Highway. The Mandi to Kullu via Katola road is also closed near Kannauj, due to which small vehicle drivers are also now going through the highway and are stranded here due to the closure of the road. There has been a massive landslide at various places from Pandoh to Aut in Mandi district on this highway. Since Tuesday (August 26) morning, the machinery of NHAI and PWD is engaged in removing the debris from the road, but due to continuous rain, there is more difficulty in removing the debris.
3-NH and 687 roads are obstructed in the state
On the damage caused by rain in the state, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi has said that, “It has been raining continuously in the state during the last 24 hours. Very heavy rains across the state in the last 12 hours have caused heavy damage in Kullu and Manali. Due to rain, 3 national highways and 687 roads are obstructed in the state. Apart from this, 2349 DTRs have been affected and 234 drinking water projects have also been affected.”
Thousands of people have taken shelter in the tunnel
Due to heavy rains and closure of the highway, it is not possible to live under the open sky. In such a situation, the tunnel built under the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane project has become a shelter for thousands of people. In this difficult time, food and water is being delivered to the stranded people through other means including Hanogi Mata Temple and Baba Balak Nath Temple Pandoh along with the administration.
Danger looms over Mandi again!
Mandi district has suffered the most damage due to the disaster during the rainy season. Once again, the clouds of danger are looming over dozens of families. Four out of 13 houses have been razed to the ground due to land subsidence in the main market of Balichowki subdivision, Balichowki. Due to the collapse of the hill, about 35 residential houses are in danger. People are crying inconsolably after seeing their homes falling apart like a pack of cards in front of their eyes. The disaster-affected families have appealed to the government for maximum help.
Villagers now seek refuge in deities to save themselves from rain
While heavy rains in Himachal have caused losses worth crores of rupees, the natural calamities are still not stopping. To save themselves from such heavy rains, people in Kullu district are now seeking refuge in deities. Nag Dhumbal, the deity of Ujhi valley in Kullu district, is again going to issue orders to his Hariyans. However, even in the past, the chariot of the deity was taken out of the temple and the villagers had pleaded before the deity to keep the weather in the valley clear. The deity has also given orders to circumambulate the area through his Hariyans.
Restaurant washed away in Beas river in Bahang, Manali
Beas river is also in spate due to heavy rains in Kullu district. Due to the flood in Beas river, the road near Bindu Dhank in Manali has been completely damaged. In such a situation, the road from Patlikuhal to Manali has been completely closed for vehicles. Apart from this, a restaurant named Sher-e-Punjab in Bahang also got washed away in the flood. It was fortunate that the restaurant was evacuated in time.
