Himachal Pradesh is on High Alert because of

Rains for 2 days

Water sports are also prohibited in HP’s Kullu, and the administration has directed that no one should approach rivers or set up camp there.

The meteorological department issued an orange alert for Friday and Saturday and warned of heavy rain through July 11 as rescuers looked for the four men who vanished after flash floods destroyed three camping sites in Chonjh village in Kullu district on Wednesday. Himachal Pradesh experienced scattered showers on Thursday.

On Friday and Saturday, the state is forecast to see heavy to extremely heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning, which will likely result in flash floods and cause landslides. According to Surender Paul, director of the Shimla MeT centre, the bad weather is predicted to last over the following week.

Electricity lines and roads were destroyed in the Kullu district by heavy rain. Due to landslides, five routes in Kullu were closed for a second day. The transmission cables for electricity were affected by rain. There have been 168 damaged electricity lines in all. In Kullu alone, nine water supply lines were harmed.

Since the beginning of the monsoon on June 29, 49 people have died in the hill state as a result of rain-related accidents.

With 15, Kullu has reported the most fatalities, followed by Mandi with 8 and Shimla with 5. Due to damages to roads and bridges, the public works department has lost money of 44.98 crore, with a total loss of about 47.51 crore.

Rivers in spate, Kullu administration bans rafting

In the hill state, constant rain has raised the water levels of the Beas, Parbati, Sarvari, Manalsu, Allain, and other rivers and rivulets. The Kullu administration has issued warnings against approaching rivers and has ordered the clearance of all tents close to riverbanks because a sudden rise in water level might be fatal.

The main tourist draw, river rafting, has also been put on hold. The warning said that until further orders, “all sorts of water sports and adventure activities, including rafting, kayaking, and zip line across water bodies, are banned.”

“There is a possibility of landslides, cloudbursts, and flash floods in the area, which may result in mishaps or calamity,” Kullu Additional District Magistrate Prashant Sirkek stated.

In his orders, the Kullu district magistrate, under sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, directed authorities concerned to remove all campsites adjoining river banks and nullahs and in landslide-prone areas till further orders. District tourism development officers, executive magistrates, divisional forest officers and police personnel have been tasked with ensuring implementation.

As per the orders, those who fail to comply may be fined and/or imprisoned up to a year, while if refusal to comply with direction results in loss of life, the accused may be jailed for up to two years.

So if you are a tourist it’s advisable to avoid these areas near rainy season gets over.