Around 13 families were relocated to a Panchayat Ghar and a school building after debris entered their homes in Lippa village of Kinnaur district, following a surge in the water level of the Pajer Khad due to continuous heavy rain across Himachal Pradesh.
Bridge Damaged, Connectivity Hit
A bridge connecting the village was also damaged as the water level rose to the bridge, causing water to accumulate on it. A video of the incident circulated widely on social media, showing debris-laden water reaching the bridge. Locals urged the district administration to clear the debris and restore road connectivity.
Administration Response
According to the district administration, the water level of the khad surged due to continuous heavy rain, leading to the accumulation of debris and mud inside several houses. A team of the district administration, along with officials from other departments, reached the village after receiving information and shifted the families to safer locations. Although the teams cleared the debris from the area, fresh deposits accumulated as the rain continued.
The Deputy Commissioner stated that the district administration was continuously monitoring the situation and had advised people not to venture into vulnerable areas or near water bodies. He noted that Kinnaur had traditionally received relatively little rain, but changing weather patterns linked to climate change had increased rainfall in the district. He added that the area’s sandy soil made it more vulnerable to damage.
The Deputy Commissioner also mentioned that the area had suffered significant damage last year, following which a survey was conducted by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and a detailed project report was submitted to the state government for restoration measures.
Landslide in Shimla
In Shimla, several vehicles were damaged due to a landslide triggered by heavy rain. No loss of life was reported, and teams from the district administration and other departments were deployed to clear the debris.
Weather Alert
Heavy rain is expected to continue across the state. The State Meteorological Centre issued yellow weather alerts for various districts until July 15. For July 10, yellow alerts have been issued for Shimla, Solan, Kangra, Mandi and Sirmaur districts, forecasting heavy to moderate rain at isolated places.
Minimum temperatures are expected to remain near normal until July 15, while maximum temperatures are likely to rise by 2°C to 4°C during the same period.
Temperature Recordings
The maximum temperatures recorded were 20.2°C in Shimla, 29°C in Dharamshala, 22.5°C in Solan, 29.6°C in Mandi, 29.5°C in Sundernagar, 16.1°C in Kufri, 19.8°C in Keylong, 26.6°C in Bhuntar, 32°C in Una, 15.4°C in Kalpa, 14°C in Narkanda and 29.2°C in Chamba. The state’s highest maximum temperature of 32.2°C was recorded in Kangra, while the lowest minimum temperature of 10°C was recorded in Bharmour, Chamba district.
