Himachal: Monsoon rains engulf entire state

Shimla: Southwest Monsoon advanced into entire Himachal Pradesh on Thursday as it wreaked havoc in many places during the past 24 hrs, washing away fertile lands and causing a flood like situation with sudden rise in the water level of some rivulets and drains.
The Deputy Commissioner Kinnaur Abid Hussain Sadiki said that flash floods took place at Thangi Khad, under Murang tehsil in the district.
The rising water level washed way the footpath and Kuhal (Small water canal), however no loss of life was reported in this incident.
Local Revenue official (Patwari) Thangi visited the spot and estimated a loss of Rs 12 Lakhs due to the heavy rainfall.
Four persons were injured in Lahaul and Spiti in a road mishap that occurred at Killing Sarai area of Lahaul subdivision this morning when a vehicle carrying four persons (3 Male & 1 Female) skidded out of the road, two persons received minor injuries.
The injured have been taken to Army Camp at Sarchu for first aid, these people belong to West Bengal. In Past 24 hours, moderate to heavy rainfall occurred at most places along with very heavy rainfall at isolated places.
There was no significant change in Minimum temperatures and appreciable fall in Maximum temperatures during the last 24 hours. Sahunta in Sirmaur received 111 mm rain, Nahan-64 mm, Nalagarh (Solan)-62 mm, Kahu (Hamirpur)49 mm, Tissa (Chamba)45 mm, Saloni and Gaggal) Kangra) 44 mm each, Dharmshala-42 mm, Paonta Sahib (Sirmaur)41, Shimla & Sunder Nagar (Mandi)-34 mm each rainfall.
40 roads were affected by heavy rainfall in the last 24 hrs in the state, power supply was also affected in 45 distribution transformers.
A total of 38 roads are closed in Chamba, Dalhousie, Salooni and Bhattiyat due to very heavy rainfall. One road each was affected in Kasuli and Lahaul subdivisions of the state. Power supply is affected in Joginder Nagar of Mandi, four places in Pooh of Kinnuar, three in Kullu, and eight places in Rajgarh of Sirmaur district.
Met Office issued an advisory of disruptions of essential services viz. water and electricity, communications and related services. Reduction in the visibility and possibility of landslides due to heavy rainfall and heavy to very heavy rainfall in hilly regions. The State administration said that advisories and guidelines should be followed and asked concerned departments to take adequate safety measures. The agriculture advisories are also issued to farmers to make proper drainage channels on account of heavy rain in the fields as rain could wash away fertile lands. To avoid direct impact of heavy rainfall, thunderstorm and lightning on new saplings, make adequate arrangements, Farmers are advised to reschedule the spraying of insecticide.
They have been asked to stay away from tall trees or other objects to keep the bee colonies disease free, neat and clean and arrange for drainage facility and avoid irrigation during spells of heavy rainfall. The Orange warning is issued for today and next 24 hrs of having heavy to very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning likely at isolated places over plains or /low hills and mid hills. Rainfall or thunderstorm is likely in most places. (UNI)