Shimla, Aug 12 (PTI) Heavy to very heavy rain lashed several parts Himachal Pradesh, triggering landslides and uprooting of trees which led to the closure of 398 roads, including three national highways, for vehicular traffic, officials said on Tuesday.
In state capital Shimla, three to four vehicles were damaged by uprooted trees. Around half-a-dozen trees fell in the Tutikandi area, while an uprooted tree damaged the roof of a building in Vikas Nagar, officials said.
A total of 398 roads, including the Aut-Sainj road, which is part of NH-305, and the roads from Khab to Gramphoo (NH-505) and Hatkoti to Poanta Sahib (NH-707), were closed for vehicular traffic.
Of these, 213 were in Mandi district and 85 in the adjoining Kullu district, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC).
The Chamba-Pathankot highway caved in near Dunera, leading to closure of the road.
The local weather office has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in five districts — Bilaspur, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla and Sirmaur — for Wednesday and Thursday.
Light to moderate rain continued to lash parts of the state with Nagrota Suriyan receiving 180.2 mm rainfall, Guler 161.2 mm, Ghamroor 112.2 mm, Nadaun 78.5 mm, Dehra Gopipur 76.2 mm, Jogindernagar 74 mm, Kangra 73.8 mm, Bhareri 70.2 mm, Palampur 69 mm, Sujanpur Tira 66 mm, Shillaroo 54 mm, Neri 48.5 mm, Shimla 45.6 mm and Dharamsala 42.5 mm.
As many as 119 people have died in rain-related incidents in the state this monsoon season, while 36 are missing. Additionally, 669 transformers and 529 water supply schemes have been affected, the SEOC said.
Since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, Himachal Pradesh has incurred losses totalling Rs 2007 crore. The state has witnessed 58 flash floods, 30 cloudbursts and 54 major landslides so far.
The state received 535.9 mm of rain against a normal rainfall of 473 mm from June 1 till August 12, an excess of 13 per cent, the local weather office said. PTI BPL ARI
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