Three children washed away in rivulet following heavy rains in HP

Chandigarh, Aug 8 (UNI) Three children were washed away in a swollen rivulet in Himachal Pradesh following moderate to heavy rain in north-west India as monsoon remained active in the region during the past 24 hours.

The rains, considered beneficial for paddy crops, triggered house collapses and landslides in the hilly state.

Three children were washed away in swollen Rata rivulet at Jahrmajri in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh this morning. Search was on to trace out the children, a report from Solan quoting police sources said. The rivulet was flowing above the danger mark.

Moderate to heavy rain lashed many areas in Himachal Pradesh, including mid and lower hills, triggering fresh landslides in the state. Some areas in Kangra and Mandi districts reported heavy rainfall.

All rivers, including the Beas, Sutlej and the Ravi and their tributaries flowing through the state were in spate. A large number of people were stranded across the Sarsa river, the Solan report said.

Heavy rains triggered landslides in Barog area, where four houses collapsed. However, no loss of life was reported. The affected famillies have been taken to safer places.

The heavy rainfall has disrupted the movement of vehicular traffic at some places in the state. Landslides have occured on the National Highway 22 and traffic has been diverted through bypass route from Kumarhatti to Solan.

Nagrota Surian with 40.0 mm rain turned out as the wettest place in Himachal Pradesh, followed by Sujanpur Tira recording 36.0 mm downpour overnight. Sundernagar recorded 26.2, Guler 25.2 mm, Berthin 22.0 mm, Solan 17.4 mm and Ghamroor 15.7 mm rainfall. Kasol, Kahu, Rampur, Una and Kalpa areas also experienced rainfall.

Shimla and upper areas of the district, including tourist places of Wildflower Hall, Kufri, Naldehra and Narkanda, and the key tourist place of Manali in Kullu district also had rainfall forcing tourists to stay indoors.

Rain, which is considered beneficial for paddy crops, lashed many areas in Punjab with Shahpur Kandi turning out to be the wettest place in the state, recording 93.0 mm rainfall overnight, followed by Ranjit Sagar Dam site registering 52.6 mm downpour. The holy city of Amritsar measured 40.3 mm, Balachour 33.3 mm and Madhopur 9.0 mm rainfall till this morning. Patiala and Bhatinda also reported rain.

Most areas in Haryana experienced moderate to heavy rain with Bhiwani turning out to be the wettest place in the state, recording 120 mm downpour till this morning. Several areas in districts of Jind, Karnal, Panipat, Hissar, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Narnaul, Rewari, Sirsa, Mewat and Sonepat were lashed by rain. Dadri recorded 91 mm, Balabgarh 71 mm, Gurgaon 65 mm, Hodel and Faridabad 40 mm each, Hansi and Narnaul 26 mm each and Ambala 24.1 mm rainfall.

Kalka, Panchkula and Rohtak also had downpour.

Intermittent rain lashed Chandigarh and its adjoining areas since last night. The city, which received 1.0 mm rain overnight, was again pounded by showers today after being enveloped in monsoon clouds.

The Met Office warned of heavy rain at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab during the next 48 hours.

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