Himachal Pradesh rain update: 77 roads shut amid heavy downpour and landslides

Himachal Pradesh rain update: Heavy rainfall and subsequent landslides have led to the closure of 77 roads across Himachal Pradesh as of Friday, according to the local authorities. The severe weather conditions have not only impacted transportation, but have also disrupted essential services in the state.

Most of the road closures are concentrated in Mandi district, where 67 roads remain blocked. Chamba district has reported seven road closures, while Kangra, Lahaul, and Shimla districts each have one road affected. In Lahaul, the key route from Darcha to Sarchu is currently closed due to a flash flood near Zingzingbar, an official release confirmed. Meanwhile, in Kangra, a bridge was washed away by the rains, and officials anticipate that a new bridge will be constructed by July to restore connectivity.

Additionally, heavy rains have caused significant disruptions in the state's utility services. In Mandi district, which has been hardest hit, 132 electricity supply schemes are currently out of service. The state has also experienced issues with water supply, with 19 water supply schemes being disrupted across various regions.

On Thursday, the state saw the closure of 115 roads due to similar weather conditions. The weather department has issued an orange alert for Himachal Pradesh, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in isolated areas through Friday. The conditions are expected to persist over the weekend, with a yellow warning in effect for continued heavy rains.

Recent rainfall statistics reveal that Kataula in Mandi received 15 cm of rain, Pandoh in Mandi saw 11 cm, and Sujanpur Tira in Hamirpur recorded 8 cm of rainfall on Thursday.

As the state braces for further adverse weather conditions, residents and travellers are advised to exercise caution and stay updated with the latest weather alerts and road conditions.