Manali-Leh National Highway 3 Reopens After Flash Floods
The Manali-Leh National Highway (NH 3), which had been blocked due to flash floods caused by a cloudburst, is now open for vehicular traffic. Officials from the Border Road Organisation (BRO) confirmed that the road was thrown open on Thursday evening. Earlier, traffic was being routed via Rohtang Pass. The cloudburst at the Anjani Mahadev nullah in Manali led to the deluge, sweeping away three houses and critically damaging another. As a result, four families are seeking shelter at a local school.
The Shimla meteorological office issued a ‘yellow’ alert for heavy rainfall in eight out of 12 state districts until July 30. The alert warns of potential damage to plantations, standing crops, vulnerable structures, and ‘kutcha’ houses due to strong winds and waterlogging in low-lying areas.
Despite intermittent rains, the state continues to grapple with the aftermath of the monsoon. Dharamshala recorded 53.6 mm of downpour, followed by Shimla (50 mm), Brahmani (40.6 mm), Sundernagar (45 mm), Gohar (40 mm), Slapper (32.3 mm), Baggi (31.4 mm), Dhaulakuan (31 mm), Jubberhatti (21.2 mm), Kasauli (12 mm), Dalhousie (11 mm), and Manali (10 mm).
Tragically, rain-related incidents have claimed the lives of 51 people in the state since the monsoon began on June 27. The losses incurred so far amount to approximately Rs 390 crore, according to the emergency operation center.
