Himachal govt releases Rs 42 crore relief for rain hit areas

As heavy rains continued to lash several parts of the state, Himachal government today released a fund of Rs 42 crore for relief and restoration work in rain hit areas.
Chief secretary, VC Pharka, who took stock of the situation and chaired the meeting for mid-term appraisal of monsoon restoration works, directed the concerned officers to restore normal traffic on all roads and provide immediate relief to victims wherever necessary.
He directed the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) through video conference to take appropriate action for immediate evacuation of settlements along with the river beds in low lying areas.
Heavy rains triggered landslides and disrupted normal life in interior areas of the state. An under-construction house collapsed at Mehli, foundation of another building slided and half a dozen trees were uprooted in Shimla.

However, Pharka confirmed most of the roads which were blocked due to heavy rains during past 48 hours were cleared and normal traffic was resumed in several areas.
Dharamsala recorded a maximum of 204 mm rainfall while the adjoining tourist town ofPalampur received 104 mm of rains, the Met department said here.

Baijnathin Kangra district received 62mm of rains, followed by Jogindernagar(61), Gaggal(60), Kheri(53), Arki(40), Pandoh(36), Jhanjehli(35), Nagrota Suriyan(31), Mashobra(23), Renuka(22), Jubbar Hatti and Dalhousie(21 each), KhadralaandNav Bahar(20 each), Karsog(19), Jubbal(18) and Nahan(17).
There was marginal change in the minimum and maximum temperatures with Mashobra in the suburbs of Shimla was the coldest at night with minimum temperature recorded at 7 degrees Celsius followed by Kalpa (12.4).

While other tourist destinations of Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala recorded a low of 14.8, 15 and 15.8 degrees Celsius, respectively, followed by Palampur (17.5), Nahan (18.7), Solan (19.4), Bhuntar (20.4), Sundernagar and (21.7).
Una was the hottest in the day with a high of 34.8 degrees Celsius followed by Sundernagar and Bhuntar (30 each) while Dharamshala, Manali and Shimla recorded a high of 27.4, 25 and 22 degrees Celsius respectively.
The MeT department has predicted rain and thundershowers in low, middle and high hills for the next six days.