Himachal Pradesh: Traffic on major highways moving smoothly after rains created havoc

Shimla: After heavy showers blocked many road links following landslides, the hills of Himachal saw subdued rainfall activity on Tuesday, the Indian Meteorological Department office in Shimla said.

Himachal witnessed light to moderate rainfall on Tuesday. Most of the rivers that were in spate saw a decline in water levels. Traffic on a majority of the highways and link roads was restored.

“There was no heavy rainfall in the state but precipitation occurred at some places in the state since Monday,” director of Meteorological Department Manmohan Singh said.

Barring light rainfall, the weather would likely to be dry in the state. As a precautionary measure, excess water was discharged from Pandoh diversion dam        located 112 km upstream of Pong Dam.

Pandoh diversion dam built on the Beas river diverts excess monsoon water towards the Pong dam. Otherwise, it diverts water towards the Satluj river which feeds the Gobind Sagar reservoir of the Bhakra dam.

Police said Leh-Manali highway has been cleared for light motor vehicles. The highway which was closed due to landslides and flash floods was again blocked on Tuesday afternoon by a landslide at Banta Morh.

The road was cleared and vehicular traffic returned after the stranded vehicles were moved.

Around 127 people are stranded at Chhatru village and the state government is making arrangements to rescue them. Officials in Shimla said 10 foreigners were also among those stranded.