Shimla sees highest precipitation in 13 years

Himachal Pradesh capital Shimla on Tuesday recorded 118 mm rainfall within 24 hours in this month - the highest precipitation since 2005, a meteorological official said here.

"The state capital had recorded 118.4 mm precipitation over the past 24 hours till 8.30 a.m. It is the highest even rainfall recorded within 24 hours in Shimla. The previous best was 108.4 mm on July 15, 2005," Meteorological Department Director Manmohan Singh told IANS here.

He attributed the heavy precipitation to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds and moisture flow from both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

"During the last 24 hours, southwest monsoon was active in the state. Heavy rain occurred at isolated places in Shimla, Bilaspur, Solan, Sirmaur, and Una districts," he said.

Bilaspur and Mandi received 65 mm and 45 mm rainfall respectively.

Singh said that light to moderate rainfall will continue in Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur districts till Thursday.

Incessant rains across the state have also caused massive landslides on national highways in Shimla, Kinnaur, Mandi and Kullu districts, hampering vehicular traffic.

The water level in the major rivers of the state - the Satluj, Beas and Yamuna - which enter the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana has also increased, a government official said.

A high alert was sounded in Kullu district as the Beas river and its tributary began flowing above the danger mark after heavy rains.

"Continuous heavy rains have increased the water level in the Beas river and its tributaries, including the Parvati and the Tirthan," an official said.

He said an alert has been sounded in villages and towns along the Beas and people had been advised to move to safer places.

He said that the water level of the Beas had increased so much that at some places the river was touching the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway 21.

--IANS

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