Shimla, July 6
A high alert was sounded in many parts of the state as private and public property worth crores of rupees was destroyed and three more power projects were shut down as widespread heavy rains continued to wreak havoc for the second consecutive day today.

Flash floods in the Baspa river caused an extensive damage to private and public property in the Karcham and Sangla areas of Kinnaur. The swollen river went berserk after the Baspa project authorities opened the gates of the dam to flush out silt without warning. The damage would have been much more had the administration not sounded an alert keeping in view the heavy rain. The police ensured that the people remained out of the danger zone.

The police registered a case against the project authorities on the complaint of Ishwar Singh, the Pradhan of the Chanshu panchayat, under Sections 336 and 427 of the IPC for causing damage to property due to negligence. The Deputy Commissioner is also like to seek an explanation from the project authorities for releasing water without informing the administration.

The maximum damage was caused in Karcham where a bridge on the Kilba road was damaged. Besides, an Ayurvedic dispensary, a mixer plant, two trucks and the stores of the PWD, old police check-post, 100 metre pipeline of the Irrigation and Public Health Department, a private JVC earthmover, over 500 metre stretch of the Kilba road, local telephone exchange, cooperative society building and agriculture store were washed away.

In upstream Sangla, three bridges, the span connecting Chanshu village, a fish farm and 600 metre stretch of the Rutrang-Karcham road were washed away. Besides, the house of Prem Singh was also swept away and eight other houses were damaged.

The Hindustan-Tibet road was blocked at several places beyond Narkanda due to landslides. The discharge in Sutlej crossed 1500 cusecs and the Beas and the Ravi were also in spate. Mr S.S. Parmar, Chief Secretary, reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting at which it was decided to set up a control room to keep round-the-clock watch on the water level in various rivers. Paramilitary forces were asked to be kept in readiness to deal with any situation.

While the 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri project remained closed for the 12th day, the Andhra project, Baspa project and Chamera-II were shut down today. Generation was suspended in the Bhabha project for sometime.

The Chandigarh-Manali National Highway remained closed for the second day as the swollen Beas river submerged 5-km stretch near Hanogi, 35-km from Mandi. Another stretch of the highway came under water near Ram Shila, close to the Kulu town. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded at various places on the highway between Manali and Pandoh. Flood water entered some houses and bazaars in Sainj in Kulu district.

Swirling waters of the Parbati river washed away a school building, a bridge and an under construction building at Ghushani in Kulu district. An unauthorised colony of a construction company was also washed away but there were no causality as the occupants had been evacuated.

As many as eight houses were washed away in Bather village. Mr A.P. Singh, SSP, said the threat of flood persisted as there had been no let up in rain, which started more than 48 hours ago. The Kulu and Mandi districts were under the increased risk due to a rise in the level of the Beas but the threat was confined to the areas along the banks of the river.