Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], September 13 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh continues to reel below the affect of an unforgiving monsoon, with the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) on Saturday confirming huge disruption to public utilities throughout the state.
As of 10:00 am on September 13, a complete of 574 roads stay blocked, 389 distribution transformers (DTRs) are disrupted, and 333 water provide schemes are out of order following contemporary spells of rain and landslides within the final 24 hours.
The SDMA additionally reported that the cumulative loss of life toll from this 12 months’s monsoon has reached 386 since June 20. Of these, 218 deaths are instantly attributed to rain-related incidents equivalent to landslides, flash floods, home collapses and drowning, whereas 168 deaths occurred in highway accidents, which spiked sharply resulting from slippery circumstances and broken hill highways.
District-wise, Kullu and Mandi are among the many worst-hit by way of highway blockages, with 174 and 166 routes disrupted, respectively. In Shimla district, 48 roads stay closed, whereas Kangra reported 45, Chamba 44 and Sirmaur 28. Major nationwide highways have additionally been hit — together with stretches of NH-03 (Manali-Keylong), NH-305 (Anni-Jalori) and NH-503A (Una area) — chopping off connectivity to high-altitude valleys and vacationer hubs.
On the facility entrance, Kullu alone accounted for 138 DTR disruptions, whereas Kangra reported 176 and Mandi 64, plunging many rural belts into darkness. Water provide has been hit hardest in Shimla (73 schemes disrupted), Mandi (52) and Chamba (21), leaving households depending on tanker providers.
Authorities mentioned restoration work is ongoing on a warfare footing, with Public Works Department (PWD), Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board and Jal Shakti Department groups deployed throughout affected districts. However, steady rainfall and contemporary landslides are hampering progress.
The SDMA has urged folks to keep away from pointless journey, particularly on hill roads liable to cave-ins and rolling boulders. Officials additionally warned of heightened dangers within the coming days as monsoon exercise is predicted to stay lively till mid-September. (ANI)