Monsoon rains damage crops at Spiti in HP

Shimla, Aug 2 (UNI) Flash floods triggered by unprecedented heavy rains destroyed a few houses and crops in Spiti Valley of Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh during the last few days, Spiti SDM Vijay Kumar today said.

''The high altitude villages of Hikkim, Lomgi and Langcha of the Valley are receiving rains since July 24 and have destroyed peas and barley crops, besides damaging several mud houses,'' he told UNI over telephone from Spiti.

He said the Valley, which normally does not receive rains even during the monsoon season, was experiencing heavy showers this year, affecting the fragile terrain of the entire district.

Though traffic on the state highways of the district was plying normally, landslide at several places on other link roads was disrupting traffic and the Border Road Organisation officials were working round the clock to maintain the flow of traffic, he said.

Mr Kumar said two government houses and a few private houses were damaged in flash floods after a cloud burst in the district.

However, no loss of life and property was reported from any part of the state.

Reports of hailstorm had also been received from some high altitude villages of the Valley, he said.

Meanwhile, almost all mid and lower hills of the state received light to moderate rains during the last 24 hours.

Moderate rains lashed isolated places in Shimla, Kullu and Kangra districts, while the other parts of the state experienced light rains during the last 24 hrous.

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