Himachal may witness flash floods: MeT

Shimla, June 25 (IANS) The hills of Himachal Pradesh may experience heavy rainfall with chances of flash floods till Monday, the weather office here said on Sunday.

"There are chances of moderate to high risk flash floods over few watersheds and neighborhood of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Shimla, Sirmaur and Mandi districts with chances of heavy rainfall in next 24 hours," the meteorological department said.

It said that heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places in Mandi districts while heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places in districts of Shimla and Sirmaur.

No large change in minimum and maximum temperatures were recorded during last 24 hours while the average minimum temperatures were normal and average maximum temperatures were below normal.

Uprooting of trees and road blockages were reported in Shimla, Sirmaur and Mandi districts.

Most of the prominent tourist towns like Shimla, Narkanda, Kufri, Kalpa, Kasauli, Chamba, Dharamsala, Palampur and Manali witnessed a good spell of rain. Sarkaghat in Mandi district recorded 130 mm rain, the highest in the state, while Sundernagar and Baldwara had 92 mm each, the meteorological department said.

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), a cloudburst occurred at Mahaal Mangal Kathpol in Arki subdivision of Solan district in which 30-35 goats were washed away.

Search and rescue operation is going on, it said.

Meanwhile, several vehicles were washed away in a flash flood in the Mohal nallah in Kullu district. However, no loss of human life has been reported.

--IANS

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