SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh government has released Rs 96.5 crore for relief-and-rescue operations in the state as heavy rainfall caused casualties and widespread damage to personal and public property since Sunday. Himachal Pradesh chief secretary Vineet Chawdhry said interim relief had been distributed among families who had lost loved ones. The bad weather also led to closure of over 923 roads across the state, including national highways.Chawdhry said adequate men and machinery had been deployed to restore roads, and water and electricity supply. He said funds had been released to all district administrations and departments concerned, and there was no shortage of essential commodities in any part of the state.Additional chief secretary PWD Manisha Nanda said of the 923 roads closed six were national highways. "DCs may hire local machinery for clearing roads and other restoration work," Nanda said.Chandigarh-Solan-Shimla national highway witnessed landslides at many places and situation was no different along Chandigarh-Kiratpur-Manali road between Swarghat and Manali as falling boulders and landslides kept the traffic disrupted along the stretch.In a review meeting called in Shimla on Monday, Chawdhry directed deputy commissioners (DCs) of all districts to close all educational institutes till Tuesday for the safety of students.The DCs, who attended the meeting through video conferencing, were also directed to ensure no one ventured near rivers. They were also asked to stop trekking activities.The Pathankot-Mandi road was cleared for light vehicles at the time this story was filed and people stranded in Lambagaon were being rescued by the district administration.Meanwhile several incidents of cloudbursts, landslides and flashfloods since Sunday evening wreaked havoc in Kullu-Manali and Mandi districts too, leading to properties worth crores of rupees destroyed.Many houses were damaged with water and debris entering them and even killing three persons. Many cattle heads were swept away and dozens of people had to be rescued.Cloudbursts caused damage to Bhuntar and Bajaura towns.The Beas is again in spate and Manali-Chandigarh national highway was submerged near Dwara village of Mandi. All the tributaries of Beas are under flood Dozens of landslides were reported from different parts of Kullu . Power supply and telecommunication was also affected in many parts on Monday.In Mandi district over 150 machines have been deployed to restore the traffic. Ancient Panchvaktra temple of Mandi was submerged in Beas and slums occupied by migrants were swept away. Mandi-Pathankot highway was also blocked following landslides.Nine persons of a family of one Ram Chand were trapped in their house after flood at Kansa Chowk in Balh. They were rescued after a lot of efforts.The silt in rivers and nullahs has reached the highest level yet and is expected to result in drinking water shortage in next few days.

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