Shimla: Daily life was disrupted as heavy rain lashed several parts of Himachal Pradesh, with five rain-related deaths reported in the 24 hours till Thursday evening, officials said.
Three people were killed in separate rain-related accidents in Shimla and Chamba districts, while one death was reported in Mandi district, according to State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) data.
A bus conductor, Gyan Chand from Mandi district, died in Udaipur area of Lahaul and Spiti after falling stones from a hillside hit him.
Around 30 pilgrims were stranded near a temple in Bharmour subdivision of Chamba district after flash floods triggered by heavy rain washed away a temporary wooden bridge, cutting off access, officials said.
A joint search and rescue operation involving the NDRF, local administration, a mountaineering institute and the Public Works Department was launched after the incident. Bharmour Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vikas Sharma said the rescue team had reached the site and essential supplies were sent to the stranded pilgrims.
Incessant rain caused the Cherang Khad stream at Rispa in Kinnaur to surge, washing away the only road to the village and cutting it off. Locals said strong currents had completely destroyed the temporary road built after an iron bridge was swept away last year.
Another wooden bridge was also washed away in a flash flood in Surcho Khad in Bhaba valley.
A total of 49 roads were closed across the state due to landslides and rain-related damage, officials said. Of these, 30 were in Kullu, eight in Sirmaur, seven in Chamba, and two each in Lahaul-Spiti and Una.
42 electricity transformers and 27 water supply schemes were also affected, the SEOC said.
A critically ill woman, Shanti Devi, was safely transported across the swollen Jahalma nallah in Lahaul-Spiti by the Border Roads Organisation on Wednesday.
Authorities in Mandi, Kullu and Kinnaur have urged people to avoid rivers, streams and landslide-prone areas and to check weather and road conditions before travel.
The Shimla Meteorological Centre issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places from July 2 to 5, except July 3.
In the 24 hours ending Thursday evening, Poanta Sahib recorded 100.4 mm rainfall, followed by Kasauli (86 mm), Dharampur (83.4 mm), Jatton Barrage (77 mm), Dhaulakuan (76 mm), Pachhad (60 mm), Rampur (53 mm), Una (50.4 mm), Nahan (38.3 mm), Palampur (37.8 mm) and Dharamshala (36.1 mm).
Kangra, Jubberhatti and Bhuntar also witnessed thunderstorms.
The District Disaster Management Authority in Shimla has deployed an NDRF team at Dhalli to handle emergency situations during the monsoon.
Rain-related incidents had claimed four lives in the state on Wednesday, officials said.
Kukumseri in Lahaul-Spiti was the coldest at 9.4°C, while Una recorded the highest temperature at 33°C.
