At least 51 people were killed as rains wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh, triggering landslides that blocked key roads, damaged homes, and buried devotees in the rubble of a temple here.
Fourteen bodies were recovered from the sites of two landslides in the state capital, and officials feared there could be more people trapped under the debris of the Shiva temple in the Summer Hill area.
The shrine was crowded with devotees, offering prayers on an important day of the holy month of Sawan. Nineteen people died in rain-related incidents in Mandi district, Deputy Commissioner Arindam Chaudhary said. In Solan, another badly affected district, 11 people including seven members of a family have been killed.
The weather office predicted extremely heavy rains in nine out of 12 districts of the state, barring Kullu, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti, on Monday and issued a yellow warning for Tuesday.
The chief minister visited the site of the temple collapse in Shimla and said all efforts are being made to rescue people buried underneath the debris.
Later, talking to reporters at the site, he said, “There was a gathering in the Lord Shiva temple at the time of the incident as it was Monday of the holy month of Sawan. All possible efforts are being made to rescue the people buried under the debris.”
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are engaged in relief and rescue operations in the hill state.
The Unesco world heritage Shimla-Kalka railway line was damaged near Summer Hill here after a landslide swept away a 50-meter bridge, leaving a portion of the track hanging in the air.
Along with the Army, personnel from the SDRF, NDRF, ITBP, and state police, among others, were involved in relief and rescue works, an official statement said.
Deputy Commissioner of Shimla Aditya Negi told PTI that many people were feared buried in the two landslides in Summer Hill and Fagli areas.
Meanwhile, the Shimla-Chandigarh road, which was closed near Chakki Mor in Solan district, opened for light vehicles after almost 12 hours, the officials said.
The government announced that the Independence Day celebrations across the state would be ceremonial without any cultural programme in the wake of huge loss of life and property. Making the announcement, Chief Minister Sukhu said the state-level I-Day function which was scheduled to be held at Manali has been shifted to Shimla.
Heavy rains battered Himachal Pradesh since Sunday, triggering landslides that blocked several roads.
Kangra received 275 mm of rainfall since Sunday evening followed by Dharamshala 264 mm, Sundernagar 168 mm, Mandi 167 mm, Berthin 149, Shimla 135 mm, Dhaulakaun 111 mm, and Nahan 107 mm.
The weather department has predicted a wet spell in the state till August 18.
So far, the state has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 7,171 crore since the onset of the monsoon on June 24, as per the state emergency operation center.
A total of 170 incidents of cloudburst and landslide have been reported in the state this monsoon season and about 9,600 houses partially or completely damaged. (PTI)