Shimla, May 25 -- Life was thrown out of gear as very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and hailstorms wreaked havoc in several parts of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday.
High-velocity winds reaching up to 70 kmph and severe hail battered towns, snapping electricity and telecom services and felling trees and power lines.
Flash floods washed away around 24 vehicles in Nirmand and Jagad Khana of Kullu district, reflecting the intensity of the sudden cloudbursts. The downpour also caused significant losses to standing apple and mango crops in the mid-hills and lower regions.
Marketplaces wore a deserted look as strong winds and waterlogging restricted public movement.
According to the India Meteorological Department, heavy rainfall was recorded in...