A worker on a JCB clears debris after a landslide following heavy monsoon rain, in Shimla. (Photo courtesy: P... Read More

SHIMLA/MANALI/UTTARKASHI: At least 31 people were killed, 10 were missing and hundreds of tourists left stranded as another day of torrential rains in the hill states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand triggered flash floods , landslides and uprooting of trees on Sunday.

Himachal Pradesh received its highest ever single-day rainfall, recording an average of 102.5mm on Sunday, 1,065% higher than normal. Around 670 roads across the state, including 13 national highways, have been blocked by landslides or flash floods, or have been washed away, including six bridges.

Raghav, 22, a tourist from Telangana, was among the dead after being hit by a shooting rock during a landslide near Manikaran in Kullu. In Uttarakhand, eight bodies were recovered and at least 10 others were missing in flash floods in Mori block in Uttarkashi district on Saturday night. Dozens of houses were damaged and an entire market washed away.

The death toll across Himachal was put at 23 while tourists visiting the state during the Independence Day weekend were reported stuck in Lahaul-Spiti and along the Manali-Mandi highway.

In the past 24 hours, Uttarakhand received 34.2mm average rainfall against a normal of 13.2mm, recording a surplus of 159%. Nainital district recorded 64.5mm rain, the highest in the state.

Officials said flash floods in the Mori block of Uttarakhand district caused substantial damage. Hundreds of hectares of agriculture land was been washed away and dozens of cattle were feared dead. Water, electricity and communication facilities have been hit.

“Nearly 10 people are reported missing in the flash floods. We have recovered three bodies – Soma Devi, 38, Kalu Ram, 60, and one unidentified body of a one-year-old child – from the affected area,” Uttarkashi disaster management officer Devendra Patwal told TOI.

According to volunteers on the spot, another five bodies were found in Makudi village but they were yet to be identified.

“Over 300 affected people have been evacuated and shifted to safer places. Primary rescue forces have reached the spot, while other teams led by district magistrate Ashish Chauhan will reach the area on Sunday night. Rescue operation by helicopters could not be attempted due to bad weather,” Patwal said.

According to local villagers, incessant rains for past 24 hours swelled up the Paber river and other local streams, which caused severe damage in nearly a dozen villages. Many buildings and vehicles were washed away at Tikochi village and the main market was devastated in flash floods. The National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), SDRF, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and district administration have begun rescue operations.

With Himachal rivers in spate, floodgates of dams were opened and power projects were closed due to high level of silt in the river water.

“The total loss to the state property has been assessed at Rs 490 crore,” chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said. Teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have been sent to Nurpur in Kangra? and Nalagarh in Solan district.

Torrential rain left almost 1,500 people, including hundreds of tourists, stranded across the state. Some were waiting for the highways to be opened for traffic while others returned to hotels Kullu or Manali. Nearly 400 tourists travelling between Manali and Leh are stuck in Lahaul.

Some 25 tourists, including a foreigner, who had gone trekking to Beas Kund in Manali were rescued on Sunday after they were stranded due to floods in Dhundi nullah on Friday evening. Among the bridges washed away, two were in Kullu district, one in Lahaul-Spiti district, one in Mandi district and two in Solan district.

Unseasonal snowfall occurred at one or two places in the high reaches of Lahaul-Spiti district — Keylong received 5cm while Rohtang and Baralacha passes received 2cm and 10cm, respectively. Keylong SDM said the snowfall in August surprised the residents. “The snow melted away in a few hours but caused a drop in temperature.”

The Chandigarh-Manali national highway is blocked at multiple places and may take a few days to open. The Manali-Leh highway is also blocked at multiple points near Rohtang and Lahaul valley and is expected to open after a day. The Manali-Spiti road is also blocked between Gramphoo and Kunzum pass.

Nearly 150 tourists, including foreigners, were rescued by the BRO in Lahaul-Spiti. They are being taken to Koksar in Lahaul from where they will be shifted to Manali on Monday.

The district administrations have announced holiday for all the educational institutions in Shimla, Solan, Bilaspur and Kullu districts on Monday. “The deputy commissioners have also been directed to take decision on closure of educational institutions in their respective districts as per situation well in time so that students do not face any inconvenience,” chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said.

According to Shimla met office, there will be a significant reduction in rainfall on Monday.

In Dehradun, a 45-year-old woman was killed on Sunday after being swept away in the swollen Bandal river.

