Heavy Downpour in Himachal Shuts Down 150 Roads, Dharamshala Records Highest Rainfall

Himachal: Heavy rain lashed parts of Himachal, including Kangra’s Dharamshala and Palampur where rainfall levels exceeded the 200-mm mark. According to the emergency operation centre, 150 roads are closed including 111 in Mandi, 13 in Sirmaur, 9 in Shimla, 8 each in Chamba and Kullu, and 1 in Kangra district, for traffic following torrential rains. The centre also said that 334 transformers are disrupted and 55 water supply schemes have been affected in the state.

Kangra’s Dharamshala recorded the highest rainfall of 214.6 mm, followed by Palampur 212.4 mm, Jogindernagar 169 mm, Kangra city 157.6 mm, Baijnath 142 mm, Jot 95.2 mm, Nagrota Suriyan 90.2 mm, Sujanpur Tira 72 mm, Dhaulakuan 70 mm, Ghamroor 68.2 mm, Nadaun 63 mm and Berthin 58.8 mm.

‘Yellow Alert’ For Thunderstorms And Lightning Issued

The Shimla meteorological office has issued a “yellow” alert, warning for thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places till July 12. Other tourist destinations of Dalhousie received 31 mm of rain, Manali received 30 mm, Kasauli 24 mm, Narkanda 19 mm, and Shimla 17.2 mm.

According to the parameters, 2.5-15.5 mm of rain is considered light rainfall, 15.6 mm-64.4 mm as moderate, 64.5-115.5 mm as heavy, 115.6-204.4 mm as very heavy, and over 204.5 mm as extremely heavy.

The minimum temperatures witnessed an appreciable fall and Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti recorded the lowest night temperature at 6.9 degrees Celsius on Friday night.  On Thursday night Kukumseri in Lahaul and Spiti recorded a minimum temperature of 11.6 degrees Celsius.

So far, the state has received 72.1 mm of rain against the normal of 35 mm, an excess of 106 percent in the month of July. 

(With inputs from PTI)