At least nine people were killed after a Shiv Mandir in Shimla collapsed after a cloudburst as rain wreaked havoc in the state on Monday. Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said as of now, nine bodies have been retrieved.
Several houses were reportedly buried under the mud and slush brought down by the landslide in the Fagli area.
“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,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, seven members of a family were killed in a cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district.
Two houses in Solan were washed away following the cloudburst on Sunday night. While six people were rescued, seven others were killed in Jadon village, a police official said.
Those dead have been identified as Harnam (38), Kamal Kishore (35), Hemlata (34), Rahul (14), Neha (12), Golu (8) and Raksha (12), Superintendent of Police, Solan, Gaurav Singh said.
Deputy Commissioner of Shimla Aditya Negi told news agency PTI that 15 to 20 people were feared buried in the two landslides and rescue operations are going on in full swing.
The chief minister also urged the people to avoid areas prone to sliding and to stay away from water bodies.
“Again tragedy has befallen Himachal Pradesh, with continuous rainfall over the past 48 hours. Reports of cloudbursts and landslides have emerged from various parts of the state resulting in loss of precious lives and property,” Sukhu tweeted.
According to the state emergency operation centre, 752 roads were closed in the state because of the calamity. All schools and colleges in the state have been ordered to be shut on Monday.
