Flash Floods Warning Issued in Himachal's 6 Districts, 76 Roads Closed

Shimla: A flash flood warning has been issued in parts of six out of 12 Himachal districts -- Kinnaur, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur -- till Wednesday as moderate rains continued to lash parts of Himachal Pradesh . The local Met office on Tuesday warned of low to moderate flash floods in the districts.

Meanwhile, as many as 76 roads, including the National Highway 5 (Hindustan-Tibet road), are closed for vehicular traffic in the state. A maximum of 34 roads are closed in Shimla, 26 in Mandi, 10 in Kangra, two in Kullu and one each in Kinnaur, Una, Sirmaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts, the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said.

Apart from that, 43 power schemes are also disrupted in the state, the SEOC said.

Moderate rains continued to lash the state and Naina Devi recorded 90.8 mm of rain since Monday evening followed by Malron 80 mm, Berthin 76.2 mm, Una 38.2 mm, Chopal 32 mm, Olinda 26 mm, Brahmani 26.4 mm, and Kasauli 22 mm.

Himachal Pradesh 's rainfall deficit since the onset of monsoon in the state on June 27 stands at 21 per cent, with the state receiving 532.1 mm rainfall against an average of 670.2 mm.

According to officials, 158 people died in rain-related incidents during the ongoing monsoon season from June 27 till September 7, while 30 are still missing. The state has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1,305 crore, they added.

Of the total deaths, 39 were due to falling from height, 27 drowning, 26 died due to snake bites, 23 due to cloudbursts, 17 were electrocuted, eight were killed in flash floods, six in landslides, one in lightning and 11 died of other reasons, they said.