Torrential rains continue to lash HP

Shimla, Aug 17 (UNI) Torrential rains continued to pound the hill state for the fifth consecutive day, as rivers and streams were in spate, flowing above the danger mark at many places.

A number of bridges on rural link roads in valleys were washed away due to flash floods in streams. Highways were also blocked at places due to landslides caused by heavy rains.

Traffic on the Bilaspur-Swarghat and the Rampur-Kinnuar highways was restored following lifting of the debris and boulders. Traffic was also normal on Shimla -Kalka highway.

However the Poanta-Shaib road in Sirmour, Mandi-Riwalsar and Shimla-Kothkhat roads were still blocked. The Shimla-Kothkhai road near Chhilla was blocked due to landslides as was the Fagu-Dhamandri road.

Due to heavy rains an apple ladened truck went off the road near Deha in Shimla district, killing one person and injuring four others, police sources said.

In Dhilo village in Solan district, a cow shed collapsed due to heavy rain killing six cattle.

The Kalka-Shimla train services was functioning normaly despite a minor landslide near the Railway station here.

The Sutlej and Beas rivers and their tributaries were in spate and had caused heavy damage in the catchment areas, reports here said.

Solan was wettest place in the state, receiving 29 mm rain in the last 24 hours. Dharamshala received 21.4 mm, Sundergar 17mm, Shimla 16.7 mm, Una 4 mm, Kalpa 7.7 mm and Mandi 3.2 mm.

Met office has forcast rain and thundershowers in many places in next 24 hrs in Himachal Pradesh.

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