The Chandigarh-Manali national highway was restored for vehicular movement on Monday night after remaining closed for almost 24 hours due to landslides and flash floods, officials said. Hundreds of commuters, including tourists, were stranded in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district as the highway was blocked since Sunday evening, as reported by news agency PTI. The 70-km Mandi-Pandoh-Kullu stretch of the highway was blocked at Khotinallah near Aut, which is about 40 km from Mandi town, after flash floods, while the Mandi-Pandoh stretch was blocked near 6 Miles after a landslide. Meanwhile, light to moderate rains continued to lash several parts of Himachal Pradesh.
"Single-lane road of the highway has been opened for traffic movement. I appeal to people to cooperate. The road is clear till Manali," Mandi SHO Sakini Kapoor said.
The Himachal tourism department also issued an advisory for the people visitng the state, urging everyone to prioritise their safety when planning a visit to the state.
The state India Meteorological Department office has already issued a warning of heavy rainfall, thunderstorm and lightning at isolated places on June 28 and 29. The MeT office also warned of thunderstorms and lightning cases on June 30 and July 1, reported PTI.
"There has been widespread rain in the last 48 hours. Mandi district has received maximum rainfall in the last 24 hours. It is still raining. This condition will remain for about four to five days. An Orange alert has been issued for today and tomorrow," Surendra Paul, IMD Director, Himachal Pradesh said.
A total of 301 roads were closed in the state following heavy rains, while 140 power transformers were disrupted.
Incidents of flash floods were witnessed in Khotinallah near Aut which is about 40 km from Mandi town, on the Pandoh-Kullu stretch due to a heavy downpour.
So far, nine people have been killed in rain-related incidents, including landslides, and drowning, in the state, according to the data shared by the state emergency operation centre. The state has already suffered losses of Rs 102 crore in rain-related incidents.
The Jal Shakti Vibhag suffered maximum damage of Rs 73.68 crore followed by the Public Works Department (PWD) which suffered a loss of Rs 27.79 crore, according to the data.
On June 25, a cloudburst in Solan and Hamirpur districts, along with heavy rains in Shimla, Mandi, and Kullu, led to flash floods that claimed lives of two individuals.
The calamity caused damage to crops, homes, vehicles, and livestock. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, one person drowned in both Hamirpur and Shimla districts. The torrential rain damaged 11 houses, several vehicles, and four cowsheds.