At least 33 individuals lost their lives in Himachal Pradesh due to the destructive impact of heavy rains. Among them, seven people were tragically buried beneath the debris of a temple in Shimla. The torrential downpours caused widespread devastation, leading to landslides that obstructed crucial roadways and caused the collapse of houses. Officials confirmed these distressing events on Monday.
There are concerns that more individuals might be trapped beneath the remains of the Shiv temple in the Summer Hill area of Shimla. The temple was bustling with devotees who had gathered to offer prayers on a significant day during the Sawan period. This incident marked one of the two landslides that occurred in the state capital, where persistent heavy rains continue to wreak havoc. In another unfortunate landslide, five bodies have been extricated from the rubble in the Fagli area, while 17 individuals were successfully rescued, according to Shimla's Superintendent of Police, Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu reported that a total of nine bodies had been recovered from the debris of a Shiv temple in the Summer Hill region, which had collapsed. Additionally, another site in the Fagli area experienced multiple houses being buried under mud and slush.
The calamitous situation prompted the closure of all schools and colleges across the state. The state's emergency operation center revealed that a staggering 752 roads were rendered impassable due to the catastrophe.
The meteorological office issued a warning predicting exceptionally heavy rainfall in nine out of the state's 12 districts for Monday, with the exceptions being Kullu, Kinnaur, and Lahaul and Spiti. A yellow warning for heavy rainfall was also issued for Tuesday.
Tragedy struck Solan district's Jadon village when a cloudburst claimed the lives of seven family members during Sunday night. The resultant cloudburst caused the disappearance of two houses. While six individuals were rescued, seven lost their lives. The victims were identified as Harnam (38), Kamal Kishore (35), Hemlata (34), Rahul (14), Neha (12), Golu (8), and Raksha (12), as confirmed by Gaurav Singh, Superintendent of Police in Solan.
In Balera panchayat within the same district, two children tragically perished as their makeshift dwelling collapsed due to a landslide. Additionally, another woman lost her life in a landslide in Banal village, Ramsheher tehsil, according to Solan's Deputy Commissioner, Manmohan Sharma.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu personally visited the site of the temple collapse in Shimla's Summer Hill area. He reassured that all possible efforts were being exerted to rescue those trapped beneath the debris. He expressed his concern via social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), stating, "Distressing news has emerged from Shimla, where the Shiv Mandir at Summer Hill collapsed as a result of the heavy rainfall. As of now, nine bodies have been retrieved. The local administration is diligently working to clear the debris in order to rescue individuals who may still be trapped. Om Shanti."
In another tweet, he lamented the devastating impact of the rains, particularly on the vicinity of the Shiv Temple in Shimla's Summerhill area. He reported that rescue operations were underway with utmost urgency to free the individuals buried beneath the wreckage.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Shimla, Aditya Negi, numerous individuals were feared to be trapped due to two separate landslides in the Summer Hill and Fagli areas. Comprehensive rescue efforts were in progress.
In Hamirpur district, Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa stated that three people had lost their lives due to the unrelenting rains, while two remained missing. He issued an appeal for heightened caution among the district's residents in light of the calamity. A person was swept away by floodwaters, and two others were successfully rescued on the previous night. Additionally, an elderly woman was tragically buried alive, while her son was rescued after their residence collapsed due to the heavy rains.
Tragedy struck in the Rangas area of the district, where a woman lost her life in yet another landslide.
Further fatalities were reported in Mandi district's Seghli panchayat, where a landslide during the late hours of Sunday resulted in the loss of seven family members, including a two-year-old child. Three individuals were successfully rescued from the scene.
The persistent heavy rains had severely battered Himachal Pradesh since Sunday, causing landslides that blocked several critical roadways, including the pivotal Shimla-Chandigarh road. As a consequence, a staggering total of 752 roads had become inaccessible within the state, according to the state's emergency operation center. Rainfall measurements included 273 mm in Kangra, 250 mm in Dharamshala, 168 mm in Sundernagar, 140 mm in Mandi, 132 mm in Jubbarhatti, 126 mm in Shimla, 120 mm in Berthin, 111 mm in Dhaulakaun, and 107 mm in Nahan since Sunday evening. The meteorological department issued a yellow warning for heavy rains on Tuesday and forecasted a continued wet spell in the state until August 18.
