SHIMLA, Jun 20:
One person was swept away as a cloudburst today struck three villages in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh where several areas expereinced the first pre-monsoon showers.
The cloudburst struck Atulai, Sahu and Kidi villages of Chamba district and caused damage to houses, crops and roads while several parts of the state received heavy rains.
A villager in Atauli was washed away, while five houses were completely destroyed and 20 houses partially damaged and roads and crops also suffered extensive damage.
Chamba Deputy Commissioner M Sudha Devi said the rains and cloudburst wreaked havoc and one person was washed away, crops and roads suffered massive damage, five houses were destroyed and 20 villages were partially damaged.
The gushing waters entered the houses, damaged roads and crops and disrupted normal life.
The main highways have been restored while the link roads would be open for traffic by tomorrow evening, Sudha Devi said.
The local MeT office confirmed that pre-monsoon rains have started in the State and would continue for next six days and is an indication that Monsoon will arrive on time.
The Monsoon normally arrives in the region on June 29 but last years, it arrived late on July 3, but this time it may be advanced by a day of two, said Manmohan Singh, director local MeT office.
Gohar in Mandi district was wettest in the region with 110 mm of rains while, Gaggal (Kangra) received 76 mm, Sangrah and Mehre 71 mm, followed by Solan, Dharampur and Kumarsein with 63 mm, 61 mm and 60 mm respectively, while Mashobra near Shimla had 57 mm rains, followed by Paonta Sahib 50 mm, Aghar 47 mm, Nahan 43 mm, Hamirpur and Mandi 40 mm, and Shimla and Arki 37 mm and Una 36 mm respectively.
Normal life was disrupted at some places in the interiors as heavy rains triggered landslides.
The MeT office has predicted rains and thundershowers throughout the State for next six days and heavy rains or thunderstorms at isolated places in mid and lower hills on June 22 and 23.
The rains have brought cheers to the farmers as these are considered good for sowing of maize and vegetable crops.
The widespread rains caused considerable fall in maximum and minimum temperatures which dropped by three to four degrees.
Una which was hottest in the region recorded a high of 35.2 degrees Celsius against 42 degrees Celsius yesterday.
Bhunter recorded maximum temperature at 33.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Sundernagar at 30.4 degrees, Dharamshala 29.6 degrees, Nahan and Solan at 28.8 degrees, Shimla 25.1 degrees and Kalpa 21.2 degrees, a drop of three to four degree since yesterday.
The minimum temperature dropped by two to three degrees and Kalpa, Manali and Shimla recorded minimum temperatures at 11.8 degrees, 13 degrees and 13.2 degrees respectively, while Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti was warmer with a low of 15.2 degrees Celsius, followed by Solan at 17 degrees, Una and Dharamsala 17. 2 degrees, Palampur and Bhuntar 18 and Sundernagar 20.5 degrees Celsius. (PTI)
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