Owing to heavy rain, human intervention, Himachal hasn’t been able to deal with Himalayas sensitively: Geologist

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 25 (ANI): Explaining the causes of the devastation caused in Himachal Pradesh, geologist Atul Sharma said that whenever heavy rainfall occurs, the top layer of soil loosens its grip and trees and buildings fall, adding that due to incessant downpour and human intervention, the state has not been able to deal with the Himalayas sensitively.
In a conversation, Geologist Atul Sharma from the Geological Wing of the Himachal Pradesh government said, "The Indian plate is consistently moving, underthrusting the Eurasian plate...Due to incessant rainfalls and human intervention, we are not able to deal with the Himalayas sensitively. The prolonged rainfalls have played a major role...The unavailability of mining permissions in that area is one of the main reasons for this havoc.”
As far as Shimla is concerned some of the trees were aged above 100 years, he said. Whenever heavy rains occur the top layer of soil loosens its grip leading to the fall of trees and buildings therewith, he added.
Explaining his point, Atul Sharma said that since we have not given permission for mining in Kullu and Bandi, the Beas river is full of silt and so when it overflows the water flows sideways.
"When we make rules, at times we are too rigid. In Kullu and Mandi, Beas is a major river. We have a Forest Conservation Act in place and we have not given permission for mining. This has led to the river being full of silt. So when it rained, the water level increased and led to flooding at the sides. The unavailability of mining permissions in that area is one of the main reasons for this havoc," he reasoned.
Similarly, he said that since we have not given permission to cut down deodar trees in Shimla, it led to the trees falling down along with buildings.
"Deodar trees need to be cut after 20-25 years, this is because, in comparison to other trees, its hold over trees is less. However, we did not have permission to cut them. Some of these trees were aged above 100 years...Whenever heavy rains occur the top layer of soil loosens its grip leading to the fall of trees and buildings therewith," he explained the reason for flooding in Shimla.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert in the state on Thursday and Friday.
"There is a possibility of heavy rainfall in parts of the districts of Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Mandi, Kullu, Una, Bilaspur and Kangra. We have issued a yellow alert for 24 and 25 August...," IMD Scientist Sandeep Kumar Sharma said speaking to ANI.
Speaking about heavy rainfall received by the hill state, the IMD Scientist said, "In the last 24 hours, light to moderate rainfall was reported in most areas of the state. In districts like Mandi, Kangra, Shimla and Sirmaur heavy to heavy rainfall is reported. Speaking amount-wise, 154 mm of rainfall was recorded in Joginder Nagar, 136 mm in Palampur, and 70 mm in Sirmaur. In Shimla city, 80 mm of rain was recorded in the last 24 hours..."
The Himachal Pradesh administration has taken a slew of measures in view of the yellow alert issued by the Indian Meteorological Department. 
A total of 30 routes including Mandi, Kullu and Dharmshala have been suspended owing to heavy rains in the state, according to an order from the state transport department.
Meanwhile, the Himachal Pradesh High Court postponed the Screening Test for the post of Driver on the Establishment of District Judiciary owing to "hostile weather conditions" in the state.
The state administration also carried out rescue efforts at several places in the state affected by cloudbursts and landslides.
The 14th battalion of the NDRF rescued 51 stranded people from Shehnu Gouni village and Kholanala Panchayat in Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh.
Earlier on Thursday, the Mandi district administration sent a consignment of food items and medicines to a remote area of the district with the help of an Air Force helicopter.
On the other hand, the police and local administration inspected the area in Kullu's Anni town, where several buildings collapsed hours after a massive landslide struck the town earlier in the day.
Kullu Additional District Magistrate Ashwini Kumar said that four buildings "collapsed" hours after a massive landslide struck Anni town in Kullu district earlier in the day.
The Kullu-Mandi Highway was damaged following heavy rainfall in the district, an official said on Thursday. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on the route.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that efforts are being made to restore order and bring normalcy to the disaster-hit state.
"The state government is making earnest efforts to restore the roads and bring normalcy, until then the concerned district administrations have been directed to make adequate arrangements for the boarding and lodging of those affected at no cost," the chief minister said in a statement.
In a gesture of commendation, the NITI Aayog lauded the pro-active leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in effectively managing the disaster situation after the recent torrential rains wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh. (ANI)