Weather: Himachal drenched heavily, several deaths, over 460 roads ruined; Full story here

The government has appealed to the people to avoid unnecessary travel and not to go near rivers and streams.

Shimla: The whole state of Himachal Pradesh is so blanketed with torrential rains so heavily that it has thrown the life in disarray, reports Dynamite News correspondent.

The monsoon has once again has wreaked havoc and has claimed so far as many as 125 lives. Due to the landslides after continuous torrential rains since last night, about 468 roads including 3 national highways have been closed.

About 1200 transformers have broken down due to heavy rains or landslides causing darkness in many areas. Shimla district is the most affected area where roads are damaged and closed at many places.

There are reports of several vehicles to be buried in debris of landslides. Many trees have also fallen down.

Falling of tress have also caused closure of many road including Sanjauli College road. Trucks and other vehicles loaded with apples are also stuck on the Shimla-Chopal main road due to the fall of trees at many places.

The water level of the Sutlej river increased due to continuous rain in Sunni subdivision of Shimla and the water reached close to the campus of ITI.

The most affected district is Mandi where as many as 310 roads are closed. The other places where roads are closed/destroyed are 52 in Sirmaur, 39 in Chamba and 33 in Kullu. Besides two national highways in Mandi and one in Kullu have also been closed.

Most parts of the state are under the cover of darkness as about 1200 transformers have stopped working. Again Mandi is the worst affected where 390 transformers have been damanged. Other places with failed transformers include 259 in Solan, 214 in Chamba, 169 in Sirmaur and 111 in Kullu.

As far as the rainfall in the state is concerned Kangra has recorded the highest rainfall of 147 mm. Nagarota Suriyan has 127, Chuwadi has 118, Mandi has 113, Jogindernagar has 100, Nahan has 95, Pandoh has 86, Pachhad has 85, Kufri has 76, Jatoun Barrage has 75, Jot has 74 and Sundarnagar has 73 mm of rain.

Orange Alert

The Weather Office has issued an orange alert of heavy to very heavy rain for a couple of days. At the same time a yellow alert of heavy rain has been issued for July 23 to 27.
The water level of the rivers has increased further as the excess water has also been released from Koldam, Larji Dam and Nathpa Dam.

The administration has appealed to the people to avoid unnecessary travel and not to go near rivers and streams.