LANDSLIDE IN SHIMLA, FLASH FLOOD IN SOLAN AS MONSOON HITS HP

KULLU: As monsoon advanced to Himachal Pradesh on Friday, heavy rains triggered flash floods in Solan and landslides and rockslides in Shimla damaging at least eight parked vehicles. No loss of life was reported. Delayed by five days, southwest monsoon had hit several parts of the hill state on Thursday.

For Saturday and Sunday, the meteorological department has issued "orange warning" of very heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur and Solan districts. The weather department has also issued a "yellow warning" of heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places on Monday and Tuesday, and predicted a wet spell in Himachal till next Thursday.

CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Friday that his govt was fully prepared to deal with any potential disaster-related challenges during the season. He said all departments have been instructed to remain vigilant and responsive to any potential emergency. The Disaster Management Authority was working in coordination with various departments to ensure implementation of all preventive measures, he added.

The CM said adequate manpower and machinery have been deployed at identified vulnerable locations. Regular mock drills are being conducted and training related to disaster management is being provided to field staff and other officials. Apart from this, regular meetings on disaster preparedness have been conducted with all the district administrations, he said, urging people to remain cautious and not venture near rivers and rivulets.