Snowfall in Chamba, 2 die in rains in HP

Shimla, Aug 16 (UNI) Higher reaches of Chamba received a spell of snowfall while two persons lost their lives in the flash flood in Sirmour district in Himachal Pradesh during the past 24 hours.

A Report from Nahan said two persons were washed away in flash flood in Jalal rivulet in Sirmour district yesterday. As many as 142 kutcha houses and 65 cowsheds collapsed while six cattleheads died due to heavy rain.

The administration assessed a loss of about Rs 12 crore due to heavy rain. Huge loss of government property was reported due to flash flood and heavy rain.

Tribal areas of Chamba district had a spell of snowfall on its higher reaches. The traffic on the link roads was disrupted due to rains in lower parts of Chamba district.

Shimla district was the worst affected due to heavy rain. Life in Shimla town was paralysed as several big trees uprooted in the rains blocked the traffic and also caused huge loss to private and government property.

Sub divisional Officer (Urban) G C Negi said that road connecting Sanjauli and Boileuganj was disrupted by landslides and traffic was halted for hours in the town.

He said the administration has assessed about 5.75 crore in the town due to heavy rain.

Shimla received highest rainfall of 58.2 mm, Nahan 29 mm Solan 28.8 mm, Dharamshala 20.8 mm, Sundernagar 20.6 mm, Bhuntar 29.5 mm and Mandi 47.3 mm raifall till now.

Met office has predicted heavy to very heavy rains at isolated places and rain and thundershower in most of the places in Himachal Pradesh for next 24 hours.

UNI ML MA VN1842