Himachal: Over 13 major roads remain blocked in Shimla as rains wreak havoc

Shimla: Normal life in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla keeps getting affected as 13 major roads across the district remained closed for the past many days due to landslides and uprooting of trees and other rain-related incidents following heavy downpours in the region. 

According to Shimla police, 13 roads in different areas of Shimla have been closed for vehicular movement. 

"The roads that have been blocked are the Tutikandi-Phagli-Khalini-Bypass near Kanlog, Bamloe-Talland road, the Baluganj-Summer Hill road, the Mehli-Junga road near Ashwani Pul, the Mehli-Badagaon-Shoghi road near Badagaon, the Chotta-Shimla-Oakover road near Rahat Hotel, the Kasumpti-Parimahal road, the Vikasnagar-SDA Complex-Kasumpti road, the Police line Kaithu road, the Shimla-Solan-Parwanoo national Highway at Chakki Mod, the Narkanda-Nankhari at Jabalda, Nankhari-Nirath at Sharan Dakh and the Sunni-Rampur road at Lunsu," said Shimla police. 

Unprecedented rains and flash floods over the last two months have thrown life out of gear in the district. The commuters are facing troubles due to the landslides, shooting stones, uprooting of trees and heavy rain. The roads are closed and are facing trouble due to the heavy rain here. 

Visuals show uprooted trees on the ground in the midst of a downpour. 
“We are facing troubles due to heavy rain, there is a fear of uprooting of trees in different parts of the city. Buses have been stopped, roads are closed and we are walking to the office. It is becoming tough. I am arriving from Nabha and I had to start early so that I can reach the office,” said Huckam Chand, a local resident and government employee. 

“It was tough, the road connecting to Kasumpti has been closed for almost a month now. We are facing problems, we are walking to the office but it is becoming tough as the mud, landslides and trees are uprooting everywhere. Buses were running earlier but now the roads are closed,” said another local resident Vinod Kumar. 

The Indian Meteorological Department on Tuesday issued an orange alert for heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh for the next three days, an official said. 

The head of the Indian Meteorological Department, Himachal Pradesh, Surendra Pal, while speaking to ANI, said the rainfall orange alert has been issued for Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Mandi, Chamba, Kangra, Hamirpur, and Bilaspur districts of the state. 
According to the alert, incidents like landslides, flash floods, cloud bursts, and rising water levels, are expected. The alert continues in Himachal Pradesh even on Tuesday, and a flash flood alert has been issued for 6 districts. 
A flash flood warning has also been issued for Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, and Sirmaur. 
"The effect of the monsoon will remain until August 27 in Himachal Pradesh. After that, the weather is expected to be normal," officials added.

The government of Himachal Pradesh has declared the whole state as a 'natural calamity affected area'.
According to the latest information provided by the state government, the total monetary loss in Himachal has reached Rs 8014.61 crore since June 24.

A total of 2,022 houses have been fully damaged, and 9,615 houses have been partially damaged, with 113 landslides occurring in this year's monsoon season.

A total of 224 lost lives in the monsoon fury while 117 people died in road accidents in the state so far, according to the government bulletin.