MANDI, May 19: Authorities at the Pandoh dam in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district have issued a public advisory cautioning locals and tourists to avoid venturing near the banks of the Beas River. The warning comes amid rising water levels, with dam spill gates expected to be opened at any time.
“The situation is being closely monitored, and the safety of the dam is being assessed,” officials said on Monday, following thunderstorms that caused damage in parts of Mandi district. Overcast skies were also reported in Mandi and Shimla, raising concerns of further rainfall.
In a related development, flash floods in the Udaipur subdivision of Lahaul and Spiti district have led to the blockage of the Sansari-Killar-Tindi-Thirot road. The police have advised the public to refrain from using this route, citing rain-induced delays in road clearance.
The local meteorological office has issued an orange warning for Una and Shimla districts, predicting light to moderate rainfall accompanied by lightning, hail, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40 to 50 kilometres per hour at isolated locations.
A yellow warning has also been issued for Bilaspur, Mandi, Kullu, Hamirpur, Solan, and Sirmaur districts, where similar weather conditions are expected with slightly lower wind speeds of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour.
Authorities have urged the public to stay alert and avoid vulnerable areas during this period of volatile weather.
