Heavy thundershower in high, low and middle hills of Himachal Pradesh has severely affected normal life and brought it to a standstill in the hill State with landslides and cloudburst at several places in the past 24 hours.
Five persons lost their lives in a road accident in Rampur area of Shimla district on Thursday afternoon when a Bolero jeep veered off the road while negotiating a sharp curve in heavy rain and fell into a gorge at Kyao, around four kilometer from Ghanvi in Rampur.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh directed the administrative authorities to provide all possible assistance to the next of kin, who died in the mishap. SDM Rampur Dilip Negi rushed to accident site and distributed a sum of `15000, each to the next of the kin of the deceased, as immediate relief.
According to Meteorological department, Shimla and Kangra were worst affected with thundershower in past 24 hours and weather is not likely to give a sigh of relief for next 24 hours as the department have sounded a warning of heavy rain and thunder showers.
The maximum temperature fell by three to four degree Celsius due to high precipitation in the State, while the minimum temperature remained as it is. The lowest temperature was recorded at Kalpa with 12.2 degree Celsius and highest at Paonta Sahib with 33 degree Celsius.
The incessant rain, an effect of pre-monsoon showers, crippled the life of the State with several roads and National Highways blocked due to landslides. In past two days, cloudburst has also been reported in Chamba district, which incurred loss to life and property.
“Since Monday, morning the State is witnessing pre-monsoon showers due to south easterily wind blowing in the State and till June 19 there is no sign of relief from heavy rainfall except for June 16, when there will be low rainfall as compared to heavy in other days,” said Manmohan Singh director Meteorological centre, Shimla.
According to the warning sounded by the weather department, heavy rain and thundershowers will take place at Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, Kangra, Mandi and Una. The State Government’s disaster management department is also keeping a close watch on the situation, as incessant rain is often the cause of landslides in different parts of the State.
The weather department said that monsoon is likely to hit the State by next week but no clear-cut predictions could be made and it is likely to affect the low and middle hills areas.