Shimla, Aug 13 (PTI) Weather remained largely dry in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, with light showers recorded at a few places, while the weather department issued an orange alert for downpour in isolated areas on August 14, 17 and 18.
According to the State Emergency Operations Centre, 136 roads remained closed in the state. Mandi had the highest number of road closures at 48, followed by 37 in Kullu, 26 in Shimla, seven in Chamba, six in Sirmaur, five in Kangra, four in Una, two in Lahaul-Spiti and one in Kinnaur.
Light to moderate rains occurred at a few places. Dharamshala which received 52 mm of rain in the past 24 hours since Wednesday eveningwhile Rohru recorded 22 mm rainfall, followed by Khadrala with 17 mm and Kasauli with 12 mm.
Minimum temperatures remained two to five degrees Celsius above normal.
Kukumseri was the coldest place in the state, recording a low of 10.3 degrees Celsius while Una was hottest in the day with a high of 36.2 degrees Celsius.
The Shimla Meteorological Centre has issued an orange alert of heavy rains at isolated places on August 14, 17 and 18.
Torrential rains in the past few days also disrupted 242 water supply schemes and nine power transformers, according to the state emergency operations centre (SEOC).
More than 200 sheep and goats died after being struck by lightning, late on Wednesday night in the Rupi Kande area of the tribal Kinnaur district, reports reaching here said.
The lightning struck while the flock was resting in the pasture. The herders were sleeping in a nearby shed, which saved their lives. Due to the lack of mobile network connectivity, a herder named Guman Singh had to walk several kilometers to report the incident.
According to Rupi Panchayat Pradhan Magla Khojan, about 150 dead animals could be counted in the dark, but the total figure is estimated to exceed 200 in the light of day.
Bhawanagar SDM Neha Negi said that a team has been dispatched to the site to assess the damage. The exact figures regarding the loss will be known once the team returns, and the process for granting compensation will be initiated in accordance with the rules.
The initial assessment of losses caused by flash floods in Munchi and Chapor Nallah in Lahaul and Spiti district on August 11 found damage to a 700-metre stretch of the Munchi-Tinno road, private and government khuls (small irrigation channels), 63 metres of irrigation pipes and standing crops in some fields.
The assessment was carried out by Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), Keylong, Kanika, along with other revenue officials, who visited the affected areas on August 12 and interacted with people affected by the flash floods.
Since the monsoon began on June 30, 77 people have died in rain-related incidents, including 14 in landslides and one in flash floods, officials said.
The state has suffered losses amounting to Rs 955 crore, they said, adding that the weather department has predicted a wet spell in the state till August 17. PTI BPL NB NB
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