New Delhi: In Himachal Pradesh, 51 people have died so far in the devastation caused by very heavy rainfall and landslides. Of these, 14 deaths occurred due to landslides in Shimla. The number of deaths due to natural calamities in the state may further increase. Landslides blocked several major roads in the state, damaged houses, and buried many devotees at a temple in Shimla. In Shimla alone, 14 bodies were recovered from two landslide sites. It is feared that more people may be trapped under the debris of the Shiva temple in the Summer Hill area.
When the landslide happened, there was a crowd of devotees in the temple, who had reached to see Lord Shiva on Monday of Sawan. While at least 19 people died in rain-related incidents in Mandi district. In Himachal Pradesh, the local meteorological department has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain, storm, and lightning at different places till August 17. Rain has been predicted in Himachal Pradesh till August 19. Amid incessant rains, the state government has also canceled the examinations, and schools and colleges will remain closed. Regarding the heavy devastation caused by the rains in Himachal Pradesh on Monday, the state’s CM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said that more than 50 people have died in the last 24 hours. More than 20 people are still trapped, the death toll may also increase. Search and rescue operations are on. It has been decided not to organize any cultural program on Independence Day in the state.
Orange alert issued in Uttarakhand
In Uttarakhand, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has expressed the possibility of heavy rains even today and has issued an Orange Alert. The Meteorological Department said that there is a possibility of very heavy rain at different places in Dehradun, Pauri, Tehri, Nainital, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar. Due to heavy rains, there was water-logging at many places in the surrounding areas of Rishikesh and the water level of river Ganga has increased. SDRF teams are engaged in rescue work at all places. Heavy rains have caused a lot of damage in the Mayapur of Peepalkoti Nagar Panchayat of Chamoli. Due to heavy debris from the mountain in Pipalkoti, many vehicles were buried under the debris and the roads were closed.
CM Dhami visits flood-affected areas in Rishikesh
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in Rishikesh and the rising water level of the river Ganga. Alaknanda River is in a spate due to continuous rains in Pauri Garhwal. While due to continuous heavy rains in Chamoli, many vehicles got buried under the debris that came from the mountain in Mayapur on the Badrinath Highway. A resort collapsed due to heavy rains at Mohanchatti in Pauri district, in which 5 people got buried. All these people are residents of Kurukshetra in Haryana. Police and SDRF conducted a search operation on the spot.
