Shimla witnessed a landslide on Saturday as a consequence of continuous rainfall in Himachal Pradesh. A bailey bridge that was installed only last year also collapsed in Sangla.
The Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh also suffered due to the downpour, with water entering several homes. Incessant heavy rainfall swelled up the Lippa stream, submerging a single-storeyed house near the Lippa bus stand, while flood threat looms large over several houses. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for isolated places in Shimla, Kullu, Chamba, Bilaspur and Sirmaur districts.
Rockfall was reported along the Kalka-Shimla National Highway and on stretches between Waknaghat and Kandaghat and between Dharampur and Chakki Mod, a news report said.
Earlier reports had said that the continuous rainfall resulted in the accumulation of debris on the road and caused erosion in many areas. Traffic was affected in these areas, hampering the normal life of residents.
The landslide was reported in Bothwell area near Sanjauli College in Shimla at around 4:00 AM on Saturday. There were no reports of casulaties despite the debris reaching residental areas. Ever since the incident, locals were forced to spend time outside the homes. In Shimla alone, 27 link roads were closed to vehicular traffic.
Moderate to very heavy rains continued in parts of Himachal Pradesh on Saturday. Nahan received 158.9 mm of rain since Friday evening, followed by Solan (80.2 mm), Nagrota Suriyan (62.5 mm), Guler (56.3 mm), Dhaulakuan (55 mm), Narkanda (54.5 mm), Kufri (48.5 mm), Sainj (48 mm), Shimla (37.5 mm), Mashobra (36.5 mm), Sarahan (35.3 mm), and Bhuntar (23.1 mm), according to the local weather department.
