Mandi region was once again lashed by high velocity winds and thunderstorm followed by heavy rain late on Monday night causing widespread damage to property and standing crops. Apple and other fruit crops were also damaged in the apple valley of Seraj.
The gale caused havoc in about 1500 sq km belt from Manali to Pathankot taking into its ambit districts of Kulu, Mandi, Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Kangra districts is said to be one of the worst during the past 60 years.
The intensity of the gale was so severe that hundreds of roof-tops were blown to winds in Kulu, Mandi, Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts.
The traffic in Karsog – Shimla and Karsog – Mandi highways remained disrupted as full-grown deodar trees fell on the roads which took over 9 hours for the PWD workers to clear the roads.
Fruit Growers Unions of Seraj Valley has urged the state government to give compensation to them immediately. Trees also fell on the houses of the people but no loss of life has been reported.
A strange incident occurred in the dense deodar forest of Jhatingri near Jogindernagar, from where a narrow road goes to a panoramic hill station Barot on the bank of river Uhl, some full-grown deodar trees sunk deep into the earth.
The scene of devastation was same in Kulu Valley where several houses were reported to have been damaged in the hurricane sweeping roofs of hundreds of houses.
Himachal Pradesh Revenue and Health Minister, Thakur Kaul Singh, has ordered immediate assessment of losses across the state. He has also urged the central government to send a central team to Himachal Pradesh to assess the quantum of damage and provide adequate compensation to the aggrieved farmers, fruit growers and others who have suffered losses in the worst ever hurricane.