SHIMLA: Widespread heavy rain lashed Himachal, triggering landslides at several places, uprooting trees and blocking 309 roads. The rain disrupted normal life in Shimla and a car was damaged due to falling of debris on the highway near Tara Devi while a tree fell blocking the link road to Bemloe this morning. 
Landslide occurred at numerous places and 309 roads, including 161 roads in Mandi zone, 77 roads in Kangra zone, 43 in Shimla zone and 24 roads in Hamirpur zone, were blocked. A total of 333 JCBs, Dozer and tippers had been deployed to clear the roads and 242 roads would be cleared tonight while 58 tomorrow, officials of the PWD said.
The sky remained heavily overcast in Shimla and adjoining areas and thick fog engulfed the region, reducing visibility to a few metres, affecting vehicular traffic. The local MeT office has predicted rain and thundershowers at many places from August 1 to August 6.
The rain also reduced the monsoon deficit from June 1 to July 31 from 32 per cent to 28 per cent and deficit was 2 per cent in Hamirpur district, 3 per cent in Shimla, 4 per cent in Bilaspur, 10 per cent in Kullu and 16 per cent in Una district.
The rain has caused extensive damage to public property and loss was estimated at Rs 117 crore. Rainfall occurred at most places as the monsoon remained active during the last 24 hours and heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places in Kangra, Una, Bilaspur, and Hamirpur and Mandi.