Heavy rains disrupt life in HP, claim 12 lives

Chandigarh, Aug 12 (UNI) Normal life was paralysed following heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh leading to landslides and house and shop collapses that claimed 12 lives.

Light showers lashed a few places in Haryana and Punjab in the last 24 hours but did not bring any relief from the hot and humid conditions prevailing in the North West plains.

A report from Shimla said that all six units of the 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri project were shut down due heavy silt being brought down from the upper reaches by the Satluj river due to rains. This may affect the power situation in Delhi and six to seven districts of HP that draw power from this project.

The authorities also had to shut down the units of the 300-MW Baspa hudro project in the Sangla valley Kinnaur district due to the threat of silting. Meanwhile the water level in the Gobind Sagar, the reservoir of the Bhakra dam was gradually rising due to rains in the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh.

Reports said that four people were buried alive when three to four shops collapsed following a landslide caused due to rains near a temple in Jawalaji in Kangra district. Three members of a family were killed when a house collapsed due to heavy rains in Gadari village of Gohar sub-division in Mandi district early this morning.

The deceased were identified as Ram Singh (43), Banti Devi(38) and Pawan Kumar (4).

In another incident two persons, identified as Ramesh and Chanranjit died due to a landslide in Janduta in Bilaspur district.

Their huts located in the Seer 'khad' (seasonal rivulet) were swept away due to the mud and boulders brought down by the waters in the 'khad' A woman was buried alive when her house collapsed in Paonta village near Sarkaghat in Mandi district today while a 14-year old boy was killed following a landslide near Kitpal village in Hamirpur district. Another death was reported from Nabahani village in Mandi district where a middle aged man identified as Sher Singh was washed away following a cloud burst.

The plains of Haryana and Punjab despite having some rain, remained hot and humid. With higher levels of humidity ranging from 70 per cent to 90 per cent.

Reports reaching Shimla said that eight vehicles parked near a seasonal rivulet in the Arki area of Solan were swept away due flash floods in the rivulet. No loss of life was resported.

A report from Shimla said that Nadaun in Hamirpur district received 230 mm rain followed by Guler in Kangra district which received 210 mm rain.Sundernagar in Mandi received 193.1 mm rain while Kasol had 115.3 mm rain and Sujanpur Tira 123.4 mm.

The hill resort of Shimla received 122.2 mm rain since yesterday leading to a fall in the temperatures. The hill capital town recorded a maximum temperature of 19.0 degrees Celsius while the minimum dropped to 16.2 degrees.

Kalpa in the tribal districts which received 24 mm rain recorded a minimum temperature of 10.0 degrees while the maximum was 18.2 degrees. The minimum temperature in Bhuntar in Kullu district was 20. 8 degrees as the town recorded 52 mm rain. Una in lower Himachal Pradesh recorded 56 mm rain which caused a drop in the minimum temperature to 21.5 degrees.

UNI