Himachal Pradesh flash floods: 300 roads blocked; power, water supply disrupted; houses, farmland damaged

SHIMLA: Flash floods and landslides created havoc in various parts of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday as heavy rainfall lashed the state, blocking over 300 roads including national highways and disrupting power and water supply.Flash floods in Takoli, Panarsa, Nagwain, which are located within a distance of around 2 kms in Mandi district bordering Kullu, swept away a stretch of the Chandigarh-Manali national highway besides damaging houses and agricultural land. The flood water entered the fruit and grain market in Takoli, damaging the stored stocks of vegetables and fruits.Flash floods that struck around 4 am brought along huge debris including boulders and trees that scattered on the highway, blocking it for traffic. In the nearby Panarsa and Nagwain, the flood water damaged houses, vehicles and agricultural land.In Nagwain, the flood water entered a government hospital before reaching the highway.Dharmendar Sharma, a resident of Nagwain whose agricultural land and a portion of house were damaged, said that the flood water diverted to at least three different places.“The flash flood had occurred at one place in the mountains but the water diverted to different places due to the encroachments done by the people along the way of the nullah. The government must take note and remove all encroachments to prevent losses in the future,” said Sharma.In the nearby Aut, at least six houses were washed away in a flash flood and a man and woman, who had got stranded were saved.Aut panchayat Pradhan Bhushan Verma said that the residents of these houses did not get time to save anything.“The flood struck suddenly between 4 am and 4.30 am and those inside their houses had to literally run for their lives. Fortunately, there was no loss to human life. But the administration must remove all the mick dumped at various places along the way of the rivulet to prevent losses in the future,” said Verma.In the neighbouring Kullu district, a flash flood in the Dohra nullah damaged at least 2 houses and a shop in Pirdi near Mohal.Chandigarh-Manali highway also remained blocked near 9 Mile and at Jogini Mod near Pandoh dam due to flash flood and landslides. The alternate Mandi-Kamand-Kataula-Bajaura link road was also blocked.Meanwhile, 361 roads remained blocked in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday morning with highest 201 in Mandi district.