Himachal Pradesh rain: Schools shut in Kangra, Mandi and Sirmaur as IMD issues red alert

All educational institutions in Kangra Mandi and Sirmaur districts will be shut on Tuesday July 21 in view of a red alert issued by the weather department officials said on MondayAccording to PTI the weather forecasting agency in Himachal Pradesh has issued a red warning for heavy rain in Chamba Kangra Kullu Mandi and Sirmaur districts on TuesdayAccording to the State Emergency Operation Centre SEOC 36 roads including 11 in Mandi and 10 in Chamba district are closed and 43 water supply schemes and five transformers were disrupted in the state following rain on MondayThree people rescued from Chamba river amid flash floodsLocals rescued three labourers who were stranded following a flash flood in Udeen and Hillu Nallahs drains in the Pangi area of Chamba districtFurthermore a temporary bridge over the Jahalma Nallah in the Lahaul and Spiti district was also washed away following a flash flood triggered by rain The TandiTindiUdaipur road was rendered inaccessible for vehicular trafficHeavy rains in the valley for the last few days have also increased the water level of the Chandrabhaga River disrupting the trafficTemporary route washed away amid heavy rainsChairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority LahaulSpiti Kiran Bhadana said that due to rain a temporary route constructed over the stream has been washed away as per PTIBhadana who is also the deputy commissioner said the Border Roads Organisation BRO officials have been asked to restore the temporary road route on a war footing as soon as the water level of Jahalma Nallah returns to normalKangra District Magistrate Hem Raj Bairwa ordered the closure of all government and private educational institutions in the district on July 20 and 21 Moreover similar orders were also issued by Mandi Deputy Commissioners Apoorv Devgan and Sirmaur DC Priyanka VermaThe closure will apply to all schools colleges vocational and technical training institutes anganwadi centres creches the Central University of Himachal Pradesh and the Sanskrit University at Balyahar in Kangra district Bairwa also instructed that the exams scheduled on July 21 be postponedAll educational institutes to remain close in Mandi districtIn Mandi all government schools private educational institutions ITIs DIETs vocational training institutes anganwadis and private day cares will be closed as per PTIThe official order however does not apply to residential educational institutions including IIT Mandi and Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College and Hospital NerchowkHeavy rainfall recorded across the state in the last few daysNahan in Sirmaur district received 594 mm of rainfall the highest followed by Meher 40 mm Manali 35 mm Sundernagar 326 mm Brahmani 292 mm Dharamshala 254 mm Una 216 mm Raipur Maidan 128 mm Palampur 11 mm and Sarahan 107 mmOfficials while briefing about the situation said that about 39 cumecs of water from Pulga Dam of Parbati2 would be diverted into the Parbati RiverAmid the chaotic situation authorities have asked people to follow official advisories and contact the state emergency helpline 1070 or the district emergency helpline 1077 in case of any emergencyWith inputs from PTI