Red alert sounded, all major rivers in spate as Himachal braces for more rain

As heavy rain batters Himachal Pradesh, triggering landslides and sweeping away roads, buildings and bridges, a red alert has been sounded.

And all schools and colleges will remain closed for two days. All major rivers are in spate, bringing normal life to a standstill.

Frightening images of the chaos unleashed by the rain — cars floating like paper boats on flooded roads, muddy waters gushing into residential areas, temples and other structures submerged on the banks by the swollen rivers — were shared online by people from Himachal Pradesh.

In Kasol, an overflowing river swept away tourist cars downstream and several bridges across the hill state collapsed due to the sheer force of the gushing water. A portion of the national highway, along the Beas river in Kullu, was washed away following massive landslides triggered by heavy rain.

The relief, rescue and restoration operations were severely hit as heavy rain continued throughout the day. However, in a late-night operation, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams rescued six people trapped in the middle of Beas River in Mandi district.

RED ALERT SOUNDED

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for 10 of 12 Himachal districts including Mandi, Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Chamba, Kangra and Kullu. All major rivers, including Ravi, Beas, Satluj, Swan and Chenab are in spate.

Solan received 135 mm of rain on Sunday, breaking a 50-year-old record of 105 mm of rain in a day in 1971, while Una received the highest rainfall since 1993.

At least six people have been killed in the rain fury. Three members of a family were killed in a house collapse following a landslide in Shimla, while one death each was reported from Kullu and Chamba districts. In Rajhana village, on the outskirts of Shimla city, a girl was buried as a huge amount of debris swept by rainwater fell on her house.

As many as 765 roads, including Chandigar-Manali National Highway were closed following the torrential rains. Hundreds of people were stranded in different parts of the state, including in Chandratal in Lahaul and Spiti and near Sadhupul in Solan district.

14 LANDSLIDES, 13 FLASHFLOODS

Fourteen major landslides and 13 flash floods were reported in the state while over 700 roads were closed, according to the Himachal Pradesh emergency operation centre.

The Chandigarh-Manali National Highway remains closed near the Six Mile area in Mandi due to massive landslides. The landslides were triggered by floodwaters that carried logs and boulders down the mountainside.

The gushing water first uprooted trees and then collided with a two-story building. The occupants of the building were rescued and relocated to a safer location.

At least five bridges, including the Aut bridge over the Beas River, the century-old Laal Pul in Pandoh, and a bridge in the Koon area connecting Mandi city and Joginder Nagar, were washed away. Footbridges in the Panchvaktra temple and Duwara suffered the same fate.

To manage the rising water levels, the administration has opened all five gates at Pandoh Dam and a flood-like situation is prevailing. The 126-megawatt Lalji hydropower project was forced to shut down after floodwaters entered the powerhouse.

UTTARAKHAND
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Uttarakhand, an orange alert was sounded in all districts as water levels rose in all major rivers, including the Ganga. More showers are likely in the next two days.

At least nine people were killed in rain-related incidents across the state. On Sunday, three pilgrims drowned in the Ganga after their jeep fell into the river amid a landslide near Gular on the Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway.

In the Kashipur area of the state, two houses collapsed, killing a couple and injuring their granddaughter, while in Uttarkashi district’s Barkot, a police officer engaged in managing traffic on the Yamunotri National Highway died after being hit by a boulder that rolled down a hill.

The weather office has said an interaction between a western disturbance and monsoonal winds is leading to an intense rainfall spell over northwest India, including Himachal and Uttarakhand.