Srinagar, August 2
Reminiscent of the flash floods that caused heavy damage in the Ladakh region three years ago, rains and flash floods hit Kargil district, causing damage to roads disrupting connectivity and damaging several houses last evening.

Traffic on the vital Srinagar-Leh highway, the only surface link connecting Ladakh region with Kashmir, was disrupted at different places around Kargil. The traffic was restored on Leh-Srinagar stretch late this evening.

Roads in and around Kargil town were damaged at different places while rainwater entered several houses forcing people to move to safer places, reports said. At least nine persons were rescued by police from a nearby village. One injured person was hospitalised, officials said.

The police here said heavy showers coupled with cloudbursts caused flash floods. This resulted in accumulation of mud leading to road blockades in Kargil last evening. Two feet of mud was seen at Kargil town, while five to six feet of mud got accumulated on roads at Titikchumik. Seven to eight feet of mud at Hunderman resulted in blockade of the road. Kargil Deputy Commissioner Fida Hussain said heavy rains lashed the town and its surrounding areas at about 7.45 pm last evening. The rains, which lasted for about half an hour, led to flash floods.

Shimla, August 2
Over 200 sheep, several windmills, cowsheds, a bridge and a road stretch were washed away in a cloudburst that hit Chungut village and its adjoining areas in Lahaul Spiti tribal district last night.

With rain continuing unabated, road links to Khanjar, Shufto, Tingrath, Shalini and Udghot villages in the district have been snapped.

“Over 200 sheep, a bridge, a 200-m road stretch and a Mahila Mandal building were washed away,” said BS Thakur, Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul Spiti. The herd of sheep was crossing the bridge at the time of the incident, he added. Heavy rain continued to lash most parts of the state, including Shimla, Kangra, Mandi and Sirmaur, causing disruption of vehicular traffic in many interior areas.