Several tourists stranded in Himachal as rains trigger landslides on highways

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As heavy rains continue to batter Himachal Pradesh, tourists and local citizens of the state continue to face problems with flash floods triggering landslides and many highways getting blocked in the state.</p>
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"Five deaths have been reported in the State during the last 24 hours and about 15 people reported to have been missing. District administrations directed to ensure relief, rescue and rehabilitation works in the rain-affected areas," Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur said.</p>
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Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed to rescue people stuck in the region and continue to look for missing people.</p>
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"Mandi, Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Hamirpur and Shimla have been badly affected during the past 24 hours," said Kumari Ilma Ifroz, SP SDRF.</p>
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She also advised all stranded people and other commuters should follow the advisory of the SDRF and follow its social media handles to stay updated.</p>
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Meanwhile, the roads in the Mandi region of Himachal Pradesh were blocked after heavy rainfall, resulting in several tourists being stranded due to the roadblocks.</p>
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Locals and tourists have also been advised to avoid going near the rivers and streams in bad weather.</p>
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In view of incessant rains in Mandi for the past two days and the weather forecast of heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours, it has been decided that all the government and private schools should remain shut, district deputy commissioner Arindam Chaudhary said in an order issued on Friday evening.</p>
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The Kullu-Sainj road was also closed due to the landslides that occurred because of the flash floods reported in the state's Pagal Nala.</p>
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Northern Railways has informed that the railway bridge on Chakki river in the state's Kangra district was damaged due to flash flood, as a result of which it collapsed in the morning. The water in the river is yet to recede.</p>
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The National Highway 5 was also closed at the Kandaghat in Solan district due to landslide that took place earlier in the day.</p>
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall in the districts of Kangra, Chamba, Bilaspur, Sirmaur, and Mandi districts.</p>
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The Himachal Pradesh's disaster management department has issued a warning for landslide due to heavy rains predicted in the state till August 25</p>