Himachal rivers in spate owing to heavy rains

Shimla, July 23 (IANS) A majority of rivers and their tributaries in Himachal Pradesh are once again in spate as moderate to heavy rain lashed the hills in the state on Saturday, said officials.

"Precipitation occurred at most places with heavy spells of rainfall at some places in Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, Kangra, Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Mandi districts," said an official of the Met office.

The southwestern monsoon will remain active till July 28, with chances of heavy to very heavy rainfall across the state, the official added.

Nahan town received 86 mm of rainfall while Nadaun got 43 mm, Kasauli 40 mm and Arki and Amb received 38 mm each of rainfall.

Shimla received 8.4 mm of rainfall while Manali got 1.2 mm. Shimla saw a high of 22.2 degrees Celsius, while it was 19 degrees in Kalpa in Kinnaur district and 28.4 degrees in Dharamsala, which largely saw no rainfall.

There were reports of link roads being closed in the interiors of Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, Sirmaur and Hamirpur districts, hampering movement of traffic.

The Chandigarh-Nahan road caved in just close to Nahan owing to heavy rainfall, affecting the plying of vehicles.

A government spokesperson said Satluj, Beas and Yamuna rivers and their tributaries were in spate in Kinnaur, Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Bilaspur and Sirmaur districts.