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Lalit Mohan
Dharamsala, August 3
Landslides and floods that struck region last month have dealt a double blow to tourism industry in Dharamsala region. Most hotels in the region that were expecting the tourism to grow after the second wave of coronavirus are once again deserted and hoteliers were reeling under losses.
Most of the hoteliers have once again started shedding staff rendering thousands of youth from the region jobless. Sources said that many hotel owners are not in a position to pay their bank installments and their accounts have turned Non Performing Assets (NPA), making them ineligible for further credit from banks.
Due to heavy rains, most rivers flowing from Dhauladhar hills were in full spate.
Flash floods in Manji river damaged three houses and five shops in Bagli area on Dharamsala-Kangra road. The road leading from Sheela to Bagli was also damaged.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director Manmohan Singh told IANS heavy to extremely heavy rainfall was recorded at many places in Kangra district. The rainfall was widespread in the state.
Palampur in Kangra district recorded 155 mm rain, the highest in the state, while it was 48 mm in Dalhousie, 10 mm in the state capital and 55 mm in picturesque tourist resort Manali.