Heavy rain triggers landslides in Mandi district

Shimla, Aug 9 (UNI) Normal life was thrown out of gear in Mandi district as heavy rains triggered landslides on highways while moderate rains occured at various places in Himachal Pradesh.

The Mandi-Kullu-Manali highway was damaged due to flash flood in a seasonal nallah, 10 km from Mandi and traffic on the highway was suspended since last evening, reports reaching here said.

Work on war footing was on to clear the road and restore traffic.

Several roads in Mandi town were cut off and flash flood threat gloomed large due to continuous rain. People living along the banks of Beas and Sutlej were alerted and those in low lying areas were also asked to move to safer places.

People living in the areas downstream Pandoh Dam have been asked to move away from the banks of Beas as opening of dam gates could cause sudden rise in water level.

The state machinery, including police and Home Guards has been alerted to meet any exigency.

Shimla, Mandi, Sundernagar, Palampur and Dharamshala received moderate rain and thick fog engulfed the region in the afternoon.

The sky was heavily overcast.

The met office predicted moderate to heavy rainfall at isolated places.

The 1500 MW Nathpa-Jhakri hydro power project in Shimla and Kinnaur districts of Himachal remained closed for 17th day today as silt level in Sutlej at Nathpa dam site remained above 8000 PPM against maximum permissible limit of 4000 PPM. The silt level in Sutlej at Khab had come down drastically but the silt in authorities downstream Khab had increased.

UNI XC DP PR RN2141