A massive landslide has obstructed National Highway 707 near Rohana in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, after intense rainfall in the area. As a result of the landslide, this highway, connecting Hatkoti and Paonta Sahib, has been closed.
A video surfaced shows the landslide has caused a substantial section of the hill to collapse onto the road, with large rocks blocking the path. As per the TOI report, the recent heavy rains have resulted in the closure of more than 80 roads throughout Himachal Pradesh, with the districts of Mandi, Kullu, Shimla, Sirmaur, and Kangra being the hardest hit.
A more concerning issue is that a section of the Chandigarh-Manali four-lane road between Mandi and Pandoh has developed cracks and started to sink, leading to the implementation of one-way traffic since Wednesday. In addition, locals are concerned about the construction quality of a recently built retaining wall.
IMD Issues 'Yellow Alert' In Shimla
The meteorological office of Shimla has issued a 'yellow alert', predicting heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning over the next week until July 12. The weather office has also warned about the possibility of heavy floods in Mandi, Sirmaur, Kangra, Kullu, Kinnaur, and Shimla districts within the next 24 hours.
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Despite the normal July rainfall being 35 mm, the state has already received 72.1 mm, recording a 106 per cent surplus. Kukumseri in Lahaul and Spiti marked the lowest night temperature at 11.6 degrees Celsius, while Chamba experienced the highest daytime temperature at 34.1 degrees.
Due to the dynamic situation, authorities continue to monitor the weather closely and respond to ongoing challenges caused by the heavy rains across Himachal Pradesh.