Shimla, August 5
Heavy rains destroyed property worth Rs 20 lakh in Chamba district as monsoon remained active in Himachal Pradesh today affecting normal life.
A cloudburst in Jaddu village in Chamba district last evening destroyed property worth Rs 20 lakh but there was no loss of life.
As many as 20 families were affected by the heavy showers as water gushed into several houses, reports said.
The main road linking Salooni with the district headquarters was breached at several places resulting in traffic blockades.
Heavy rains lashed Shimla, Solan, Palampur, Dharamsala and several other places early this morning. The sky remained heavily overcast and thick fog engulfed the region.
Two shops were damaged in Hamirpur while rail and road traffic was disrupted in Kangra and Maranda following sharp showers.
Kulu also had moderate to heavy rains but the dry spell continued in the twin tribal valleys of Spiti and
Lahaul.
The delayed monsoon has provided relief to farmers and fruit growers and sowing of kharif crop is in full swing in the state.
The rains are considered beneficial for apple crop in the high-altitude areas where plucking of apple would start from mid-August.
Three persons had already lost their lives in flash floods in the state.
PTI
Our Correspondent from Una adds: Traffic on the Una-Dharamsala state highway has been held up since yesterday due to the collapse of a retaining wall on the basal bridge, about 7 km from here, due to flash floods in the area. Pilgrims visiting
Chintpurni, Jawalaji, Kangra and other passengers travelling on this road have been facing great hardship as the district administration has diverted the traffic from Una via Saloh Gagret Mubarikpur for Chintpurni and Dharamsala.
The condition of the Solah Gagret Mubarikpur road is deplorable, hence the movement of the traffic has been slow.
Executive Engineer, Una, on reaching the spot had directed the closure of road for all types of vehicles and diverted the traffic via
Jhalera.
Villagers present at the site said every day dozens of tractor-trolleys carry sand and gravel from the bed of basal
khad, just near the bridge, causing damage to the bridge foundation. This unchecked mining of sand and gravel is causing damage to the bridge as well as both banks of the
khad. Villagers further pointed out to the illegal mining in the area, which has been going on since the last many years without any check by the Geology Department, the Industry Department and the Flood Control Department.
According to information available, the repair and construction of the retaining wall may take four or five days and till then the traffic on the Una-Dharamsala state highway would be diverted via
Gagret.
