First Monsoon rain plays havoc in and around Dharamsala

Dharamsala (Arvind Sharma) : The monsoon is in full swing in the Kangra Valley. The first monsoon rain started late last night, and it started its devastating angle in the morning. Several vehicles have been washed away in the tourist spot Bhagsu Nag in Upper Dharamsala adjoining Mecleodganj. Around eight in the morning, a drain above Bhagsunag in McLeodganj’s tourist spot changed its course and water started flowing towards the parking lot located on the Bhagsunag temple road and four cars and several bikes were washed away along the parking lot. Apart from this, Government School in Bhagsunag has also been damaged a lot. Due to the flow of water, the adjacent hotels there have also become inundated with water.The bridge over Gaj Khad in Rajol on Mandi Pathankot Highway has been damaged. Police have been deployed there and the movement of vehicles has been completely stopped for the moment, causing long queues of vehicles on both sides of the highway.All the rivulets of the district around Shahpur, Palampur and Dharamsala are on spate since last night. There has also been heavy damage due to flash flood in Manjhi Khad adjoining Dharamsala city, a three-storey building in Chaitru was swept away and another building near Shila Chowk has also been washed away in the ravine, whereas dozens other buildings are reported damaged. Deputy Commissioner Dr Nipun Jindal said that people should avoid going near Rivers ,Khads and ravines during monsoon season. “Instructions have also been given to not to go to sensitive places prone to landslides. Some people have also been shifted to safer places due to flood conditions in some areas of the district,” said DC.
The Deputy Commissioner, Dr Nipun Jindal, while directing the officers of the Revenue Department, said that relief and rehabilitation works should be completed with immediate effect and there should be no laxity at any level so that the affected people do not face any kind of inconvenienceThe Deputy Commissioner said that control rooms have been set up at district and sub-divisional level to deal with disasters, this control room will remain open 24 hours during the monsoon season. “In case of disaster, one can contact the district headquarters control room on toll free number 1077 or 01892 229050 ,” said DC. He said that suitable steps have also been taken to make the weather forecast information available to the people regularly so that the general public remains alert about the weather in advance.He said that the Public Works Department, IPH and Electricity Department have been instructed to keep JCB machines and necessary equipment ready in advance for disaster management. Deputy Commissioner Kangra Dr Nipun Jindal said that according to the information received from the Meteorological Department, there is a forecast of heavy rain on 13th July as well as from 14th to 16th July the weather has been described as bad. Keeping this in mind, under the Disaster Management Act 2005, orders have been issued to the district officers of all the departments in Kangra district to remain alert and in direct contact with the district administration, in which the departmental officers should be alert through mobile or any other means. Orders have been given so that swift action can be taken to deal with the disaster situation. Due to inclement weather and heavy rains, all incoming flights to Gagal Airport have been canceled for today. Gagal Airport’s traffic in-charge Gaurav Kumar said that due to heavy rains and bad weather, all flights have been cancelled, neither Air India nor SpiceJet are flying to Dharamsala today.The heavy rain is still continuing in the area.