Himachal gets heavy rains, more in store

Shimla, July 15 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh continued to experience moderate to heavy rainfall on Friday, causing landslides in some areas and blocking the highways, while major rivers and tributaries were swollen again, officials said.

While Dharamsala recorded the highest rainfall in the state at 167 mm, it was 123 mm in Palampur, 92 mm each in Jogindernagar and Paonta Sahib and 12.4 mm in Manali.

State capital Shimla, which saw 13 mm rain, recorded a high of 21.8 degrees Celsius. However, the night temperature stayed at 16.6 degrees.

An official of the local Met office said there are chances of heavy rainfall at some places in the state till Sunday.

Incessant rains have also caused massive landslides on National Highways 21 and 22 in interiors of Shimla, Kinnaur, Mandi and Kullu districts, hampering vehicular traffic.

The water level in the major rivers of the state - the Satluj, Beas and Yamuna - which enter the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana has also increased, a government official said.