Disaster Management meeting reviews flood situation in HP

Shimla, July 13: In view of the flood threat in Kinnuar district of Himachal Pradesh due to heavy rains, the state government has set up two control rooms in the district to meet any eventuality, an official spokesman today said.

One control room has been set up at the district headquarters, while another has been set up at Nathpa dam site to monitor any increase of water level in the Satluj River, he said.

The spokesman said Shimla Divisional Commissioner V C Pharka held a meeting of the district natural management committee here yesterday and reviewed the steps being taken to meet the flood threat.

The Army, ITBP, Police and the district administration have been asked to remain vigilant and the district has been divided into six sectors for better administrative control during the period, he said.

He said hooters and sirens have been installed at Chango, Spillow, Raita Khan,Akpa, Tapri and Baltang areas of the district, besides the wireless systems to warn people about any rise in the water level of the river.

Essential commodities like wheat, rice, pulses, other food items, medicines, petrol and diesel have been stored in adequate quantity to meet any eventuality, he said.

The water level in all the rivers of the state was flowing below the danger level mark and official sources said a general alert has been sounded in the five districts of Kinnuar, Kullu, Shimla, Mandi and Bilaspur in view of the flood threat from the rivers and their tributaries in these districts.

The sources said though the water level in the rivers was normal until now, but the alert was a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward loss to life and property.

Meanwhile, light to moderate showers continued to lash several mid and lower hills of Himachal Pradesh during the last 24 hrs, but no loss of life and property was reported from anywhere in the state, the met office and official sources said. Nauni in Solan district recorded 35.2 mm of rain, while Karsog in Mandi district and Kahu in Bilaspur received 21 mm and 19.7 mm of rains respectively.

A report from Kyelong in Lahaul-Spiti said rain clouds were hovering over the district and it could start raining anytime now though Patsio in the district had not recorded any rain during the last 24 hrs.

Several areas of Chamba district were receiving rainfall since 1400 hrs, while the sky was covered over the famous tourist resort of Kullu after receiving light showers in the evening.

Berthin in Bilaspur district and Nadaun in Hamirpur district recorded 17 mm of rain followed by 9.4 mm in Shimla, 6.4 mm at Kasol in Bilaspur and 4.8 mm rain at Solang Nullah in Kullu district.

The famous tourist resort of Mashobra, near here, also recorded 9.2 mm of rain during the last 24 hrs.

Heavy rains lashed Shimla and its adjoining areas in the afternoon, sending people scurrying for cover from the heavy drops of water.

The state capital recorded a night temperature of 16.4 degrees, while Sundernagar and Bhuntar recorded minimum of 20.5 and 19 degrees respectively.

Patsio recorded a minimum temperature of 2.5 degrees, while Kalpa recorded 11.4 degree Celsius.

The met office has predicted moderate to heavy showers or thundershowers at isolated places in the state during the next 24 hrs.

UNI