The death toll resulting from the torrential rains in Himachal Pradesh has risen to 57 individuals, according to officials. Among the fatalities is a woman whose body was extracted from the rubble of a collapsed Shiv temple near Summer Hill. The state has been severely battered by heavy rains since Sunday, causing landslides in various areas including Summer Hill, Krishna Nagar, and Fagli.
Rescue efforts are actively underway in Summer Hill and Krishna Nagar, with one body retrieved from Summer Hill so far, informed Deputy Commissioner Aditya Negi. Among the recovered bodies, 13 were from Summer Hill, five from Fagli, and two from Krishna Nagar. Tragically, the debris of the fallen Shiv temple holds the possibility of ten more bodies being trapped.
Concern for safety has led to about 15 homes in Krishna Nagar being evacuated, while many others have abandoned their residences due to the fear of landslides caused by relentless rainfall. A substantial landslide in Shimla’s Krishnanagar district led to two casualties and the destruction of at least eight houses and a slaughterhouse.
Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, revealed that the state has faced an alarming 157 percent surge in rainfall in recent days, resulting in significant damage and around 60 reported fatalities over a three-day period. In response to the inclement weather, the Education Department has ordered the closure of all educational institutions in the state until August 19. The ongoing monsoons, which began on June 24, have left the region grappling with over 800 blocked roads and losses exceeding Rs 7,200 crore.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri has called upon the central government to declare Himachal Pradesh a national calamity and allocate Rs 2,000 crore for restoration efforts. This catastrophe follows previous heavy rainfall in July that resulted in fatalities and extensive property damage across the state.
Post Your Comments