Heavy Rains: Government, private schools to remain closed in Himachal Pradesh on Monday

Heavy rains have driven the Himachal Pradesh government to order the closure of all schools in Kullu and Kinnaur districts on Monday, officials said.

All government and private schools will remain closed in the tribal district of Kinnaur on Monday as per the directions issued by Deputy Commissioner Gopal Chand, an official said Sunday.

Similarly, all private and government schools as well colleges and ITIs will remain closed Monday in Kullu district, Deputy Commissioner Yunus said.

Yunus said students would not be required to come to their education institutions but teaching and non-teaching staff would remain present in their respective institutions.  

Presiding over a meeting held to review monsoon-related losses and damages, the CM said 199 of the 264 deaths took place in accidents on damaged roads.

Himachal suffered a total loss of Rs 1,217.29 crores due to excessive rains, flash floods and cloudburst incidents, Thakur said, adding that the state government would soon submit a memorandum of losses and damages to the Centre for financial aid.

Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (HPPWD) incurred a loss of Rs 735 crore due to the rains in the form of damages to roads, bridges, breast walls and retaining walls, he added.

Thakur said although the maximum damage was caused by heavy rains, unplanned dumping of debris was also to blame.

He said it was important to ensure that the debris was disposed off at designated places in a planned manner. Effective cross drainage and side drainage facilities should be maintained to ensure a proper drainage system, he added.

The CM said the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Department also suffered losses of Rs 328.78 crore. Several major, medium and minor drinking water supply and irrigation schemes were damaged due to landslides and heavy rains, he added.