Heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh blocked a part of the national highway 5 near Shimla, and prompted the authorities to suspend the Manimahesh Yatra in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district on Monday, 26 August.
Villages in Punajab's border district Ferozepur on the other hand, are facing a flood threat after a major portion of an embankment in the catchment area of Sutlej was away after Pakistan released water into the Indian territory.
More than 50 people have so far lost their lives in the floods in northern India.
- Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are likely to receive heavy rains on 26-27 August, IMD reported.
- Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced Rs 100 crore as emergency relief
- Rescue operations are underway in Uttarkashi’s Mori tehsil in Uttarakhand, following a cloudburst in the area
- A helicopter with three people aboard and carrying relief material to flood-affected areas, crashed in Uttarkashi on Wednesday, 21 August.
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Patkar on 'Satyagraha' to Seek Rehab of Flood-Affected in MP
Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) founder Medha Patkar has started an indefinite protest over her demand for proper rehabilitation of the flood-affected people in Madhya Pradesh's Barwani district and opening of gates of the Sardar Sarovar Dam in neighbouring Gujarat.
“We had apprised the state government about our demands. Relief camps should have been set up at different villages in the area of submergence, the displaced have not been rehabilitated properly so far,” Patkar told reporters at the protest site.
Earlier this month, the dam's backwater level increased following heavy rains, creating a flood-like situation in some parts of the district.
Manimahesh Yatra Suspended Due to Heavy Rains
The Manimahesh Yatra in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district has been suspended due to washing away of a bridge following rains, a police official said on Monday, 26 August.
“A bridge near Bharngala Nala connecting Hudsar to Bharmour has been washed away following rains. This is the only route to Manimahesh. Efforts are being made to restore the bridge. Till then the yatra has been suspended.”Vimukt Ranjan, SP, Kangra
He advised pilgrims not to proceed further towards Chamba/Manimahesh, till clearance from authorities concerned.
The Manimahesh Lake is situated 26 km rom Bharmour in Budhil valley, an important pilgrimage spot in Himachal Pradesh.
The lake is situated at an altitude of 13,000 feet. Every year during August/September thousands of pilgrims flock the lake to take a dip.
NH5 Blocked Due to Heavy Rainfall in Shimla
The National Highway-5 has been blocked in the Badhal village of the Shimla district due to heavy rainfall in the region.
Punjab CM Asks for Strengthening of Embankment at Tendiwala Village, Ferozepur District
Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday asked the Water Resources Department to work out a joint action plan with the army authorities to strengthen the embankment at Tendiwala village in Ferozepur district on India-Pakistan border.