Himachal Pradesh rain: Schools shut in Kangra, Mandi and Sirmaur as IMD issues red alert

Representational image. File pic

All educational institutions in Kangra, Mandi and Sirmaur districts will be shut on Tuesday, July 21, in view of a red alert issued by the weather department, officials said on Monday.

According to PTI, the weather forecasting agency in Himachal Pradesh has issued a red warning for heavy rain in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi and Sirmaur districts on Tuesday.

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), 36 roads, including 11 in Mandi and 10 in Chamba district, are closed, and 43 water supply schemes and five transformers were disrupted in the state following rain on Monday.

Three people rescued from Chamba river amid flash floods

Locals rescued three labourers who were stranded following a flash flood in Udeen and Hillu Nallahs (drains) in the Pangi area of Chamba district.

Furthermore, a temporary bridge over the Jahalma Nallah in the Lahaul and Spiti district was also washed away following a flash flood triggered by rain. The Tandi-Tindi-Udaipur road was rendered inaccessible for vehicular traffic.

Heavy rains in the valley for the last few days have also increased the water level of the Chandrabhaga River, disrupting the traffic.

Temporary route washed away amid heavy rains

Chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority, Lahaul-Spiti, Kiran Bhadana, said that due to rain, a temporary route constructed over the stream has been washed away, as per PTI.

Bhadana, who is also the deputy commissioner, said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) officials have been asked to restore the temporary road route on a war footing as soon as the water level of Jahalma Nallah returns to normal.

Kangra District Magistrate Hem Raj Bairwa ordered the closure of all government and private educational institutions in the district on July 20 and 21. Moreover, similar orders were also issued by Mandi Deputy Commissioners Apoorv Devgan and Sirmaur DC Priyanka Verma.

The closure will apply to all schools, colleges, vocational and technical training institutes, anganwadi centres, creches, the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, and the Sanskrit University at Balyahar in Kangra district. Bairwa also instructed that the exams scheduled on July 21 be postponed.

All educational institutes to remain close in Mandi district

In Mandi, all government schools, private educational institutions, ITIs, DIETs, vocational training institutes, anganwadis and private day cares will be closed, as per PTI.

The official order, however, does not apply to residential educational institutions, including IIT Mandi and Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College and Hospital, Nerchowk.

Heavy rainfall recorded across the state in the last few days

Nahan in Sirmaur district received 59.4 mm of rainfall, the highest, followed by Meher 40 mm, Manali 35 mm, Sundernagar 32.6 mm, Brahmani 29.2 mm, Dharamshala 25.4 mm, Una 21.6 mm, Raipur Maidan 12.8 mm, Palampur 11 mm, and Sarahan 10.7 mm.

Officials, while briefing about the situation, said that about 39 cumecs of water from Pulga Dam of Parbati-2 would be diverted into the Parbati River.

Amid the chaotic situation, authorities have asked people to follow official advisories and contact the state emergency helpline, 1070, or the district emergency helpline, 1077, in case of any emergency.

(With inputs from PTI)