Sirmaur rivers in spate, roads blocked

Our Correspondent

Nahan, August 11

Rivers and streams in Sirmaur district are in spate as relentless rain since last night has disrupted normal life across the region.

At Renuka Ji, the gates of Jaton dam have been opened after the reservoir surpassed its capacity. With the excess water being released, there has been a significant rise in water level of the Giri river.

In the Ronhat area under the Shillai subdivision, Bhangal khad (stream) saw a dramatic rise in water level overnight. Two images of the khad have gone viral on social media, showing the difference in the water level within a span of a few hours.

The heavy rain also triggered landslides, blocked roads and made travelling dangerous and difficult. The Markanda river swept away a recently constructed Hanuman temple near the district headquarters. The Salani bridge was under threat as the river was flowing dangerously close to it. Other rivers in the district, including the Yamuna, Tons, Jalal and Gambar, were also in a spate.

Crops on several bighas were destroyed in the district due to the incessant rain. The National Highway No. 707 and several other roads in the district have been closed for traffic due to landslides. In Nahan’s Verma Papri area, a landslide has posed a threat to an electricity substation, raising the fear of power disruption.

Waterlogging was reported from various parts of the district, including Nahan’s Amarpur locality and the Housing Board area.

Sirmaur’s Deputy Commissioner Sumit Khimta has instructed all administrative officers to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to ensure public safety. He has appealed to the people to stay away from rivers and streams and exercise caution while travelling through landslide-prone areas. The DC has also advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel during the monsoon season and only venture out of homes if absolutely necessary. In case of emergency, the district disaster management centre can be reached 24x7 via toll-free number 1077. Khimta said the district administration was making efforts to restore essential services such as electricity, water and road connectivity at the earliest. He also requested the public to follow all instructions and guidelines issued by the administration to mitigate the risks posed by the ongoing adverse weather conditions.