Shimla, Aug. 15 -- The India Meteorological Department has predicted that rains will continue to lash Himachal Pradesh from August 14 to August 18, with varying intensity. With light to moderate rain was witnessed at many places on Friday, the MeT department predicted that on August 15, rainfall activity is likely to continue, although its intensity may decrease. A yellow alert has been issued for Bilaspur, Kangra and Mandi. Sandeep Kumar Sharma, senior scientist, IMD Shimla said, "Monsoon activity is expected to strengthen again from August 16, when heavy rainfall is possible in Chamba, Kangra and Mandi. A heavy-rain warning has been issued for these areas." He said that on August 17 and 18, rainfall will continue across the state. Orange alerts have been issued for August 18 for Kangra and Sirmaur, while isolated areas may receive very heavy rainfall. Sharma said that although no fresh flash-flood warning was currently in place, the possibility could increase if rainfall intensifies. A landslide blocked the Bilaspur-Shimla highway on Thursday night near the Bilaspur-Solan border between Bhararighat and Nalag. The occupants of a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus had a narrow escape as the vehicle was about to cross the stretch. The road stayed closed to all vehicles for about four hours. Rains also disrupted road connectivity. As of Friday evening till 5 pm, the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) reported that 144 roads were blocked, though no national highway was blocked, and 250 water supply schemes were affected across the state. Heavy vehicles weighing more than 19 metric tonnes will be barred from crossing the Dehra-Beas bridge in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district for a month, following consultations with authorities over the bridge's current condition and traffic management requirements, officials said on Friday. Kangra deputy commissioner Hemraj Bairwa ordered the restriction from August 15 to September 14 in the interest of public safety. The decision was taken after consultations with officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), public works department and police department regarding the current condition of the bridge and measures needed to manage traffic, Bairwa said. Under the order, only vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of 19 metric tonnes will be allowed to cross the Dehra-Beas bridge. Vehicles exceeding prescribed limit will have to use Chamba-Pattan and Nadaun bridges....