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Shimla | All schools and colleges were shut in Kangra, Mandi and Sirmaur districts on Tuesday in view of a 'red' alert issued by the meteorological department for heavy rain.

Intermittent rain forced the authorities to shut all educational institutions in Theog of Shimla, Salooni of Chamba and Nirmand of Kullu districts.

The old Hindustan-Tibet road (National Highway 5) was closed for vehicular traffic following landslides at two places in Kinnaur district, officials said.

The road became inaccessible near Shalkhar after a sudden slide of debris (flash slide) from the hillside. The route was also obstructed near Samdo due to falling boulders. The administration has appealed to travellers to undertake journeys only if necessary.

As a result of these incidents, vehicular movement between Kaza, Spiti, Pooh, and Reckong Peo has come to a complete standstill.

The Nurpur-Lahru road, Chowari-Dalhousie, Shahpur-Sihunta-Chowari road, and National Highway 154A Chakki from Punjab to Bharmour in Himachal Pradesh were among the roads shut.

Heavy to very heavy rain lashed parts of Kangra, Chamba and Sirmaur districts since Monday evening.

Palampur was the wettest with 136.4 mm of rain, followed by Dadahu 105.6 mm, Jatton Barrage 103.6 mm, Paonta Sahib 79.8 mm, Nahan 79.2 mm, Dharamshala 75.4 mm, and Bhattiyat 71 mm.

Kangra, Pachhad, Sangrah, and Dhualakuan received between 60 mm and 68 mm of rain each.

The meteorological department has warned of very heavy to extremely heavy rain in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi and Sirmaur districts on Tuesday. It has also sounded a flash flood threat.

Rainfall between 115.6 and 204.5 mm is considered very heavy and above 204.5 mm in a day is considered extremely heavy.

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), 36 roads, including 11 in Mandi and 10 in Chamba, were closed and 43 water supply schemes and five transformers were disrupted in Himachal Pradesh after rain on Monday evening.

All deputy commissioners have been directed to activate district emergency operation centres on a round-the-clock basis, identify locations prone to landslides, flash floods and cloudbursts, officials said.

The public has been asked to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from rivers, streams, nallahs and landslide-prone slopes, and refrain from attempting to cross overflowing bridges or flooded roads.

Authorities have asked people to follow official advisories and contact the state emergency helpline, 1070, or the district emergency helpline, 1077, in case of any emergency.