Himachal Rains: Over 50 Dead In 24 Hrs, 20 Still Trapped, Says CM. Muted Celebrations To Mark I-Day — Updates

Himachal Pradesh Rains: With a Yellow alert in parts of Himachal Pradesh for August 15, CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said cultural programs on the occasion of Independence Day have been cancelled.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu during his visit to the site of cloudbursts, at Jadon village in Solan district, Monday, Aug 14, 2023.

Source : PTI

Over 50 people have died in Himachal Pradesh in rain-related incidents, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Monday as he informed that about 15-20 people are still trapped under the debris of landslides which means the fatalities are expected to increase. A total of 14 people died in two Shimla landslips including one at a temple, news agency PTI reported officials as informing. CM Sukhu visited a Shiv Temple in Summerhill, Shimla to take stock of the situation in the aftermath of a tragic landslide.

Himachal Pradesh has been battered by heavy rains since Sunday that have led to landslides, blocking several roads, including the key Shimla-Chandigarh road.

Death Toll Expected To Rise In 2 Landslides, CM Sukhu Visits Temple Collapse Site — Updates

• Talking to news agency ANI, the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister said that over 50 people have lost their lives in the state in the last 24 hours while more than 20 people are still trapped, hence, the death toll is expected to rise. "Search and rescue operation is underway. We have taken the decision not to organise any cultural program on the occasion of Independence Day," he informed.
  

  #WATCH | Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu says "Over 50 people have lost their lives in the state in last 24 hours. Over 20 people are still trapped, the death toll can also increase. Search and rescue operation is underway. We have taken the decision not to organise… pic.twitter.com/bTeaotLcLv

  — ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2023

• Later addressing media persons, he said that at a high-level meeting, it has been decided that the Independence Day celebrations will only be ceremonial in Himachal Pradesh and the police personnel who were going to take part in the I-day parade in the national capital have been withdrawn to engage in rescue efforts. He informed that the state-level I-Day function which was scheduled to be held at Manali has been shifted to Shimla.  
  
  CM Sukhu would preside over the programme in Shimla and Manali will now host a district-level function, PTI reported citing a statement. Only flag hoisting, parade, and speech by the chief guest will mark the celebrations at different locations in the hill state, as per the government.

• About 19 persons died in various rain-related incidents in Mandi district as more bodies were recovered, Deputy Commissioner Arindam Chaudhary told PTI. Meanwhile, more people are feared trapped under the debris of the Shiv temple in Shimla's Summer Hill area where a landslide occurred with devotees offering prayers on an important day of the holy month of Sawan.

• In a second landslide, five bodies have been taken out of the rubble in the Fagli area with 17 persons rescued, Shimla SP Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi said, as per PTI.
• Visiting the site of the temple collapse in Shimla city, CM Sukhu said all efforts are being made to rescue people buried underneath the debris. "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. Rescue work is underway on a war footing. All possible efforts are being made to rescue the people buried under the debris," he said, as quoted by PTI

  #WATCH | Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on landslide incident in Shimla and devastation due to heavy rainfall in the state
  
  "20-25 people are trapped under debris here (Summer Hill, Shimla). 21 people dead in the last 24 hours in the state. I appeal to people to stay… pic.twitter.com/qvATnkjSVL

  — ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2023

• The Himachal Chief Minister also stated that President Droupadi Murmu, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, BJP chief JP Nadda, and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi called him to provide all possible help to the state government. He thanked the Army and ITBP jawans who are lending support to the rescue efforts.
  
  Along with the Army, personnel from the SDRF, NDRF, and state police, among others, are engaged in relief and rescue works.
  
  
• The weather office has issued a yellow warning for Tuesday while a wet spell is forecast till August 18.
  
  "For August 15, a 'yellow' alert has been issued which includes Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, and Hamirpur," Bui Lal, IMD Deputy Director, Himachal Pradesh told ANI.
  
  
• Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are engaged in relief and rescue operations as he termed the loss of lives due to the deluge as "extremely distressing".
  
  
• All schools and colleges were closed today due the incessant rainfall which also caused 621 roads to be shut for operations, according to the state emergency operation centre. In total, 752 roads are blocked in the state.
  
  
• In Shimla, the UNESCO world heritage Shimla-Kalka railway bridge was badly damaged near Summer Hill. The 50-metre bridge was swayed away and the tracks are hanging in the air, PTI reported officials as saying.

  #WATCH | Himachal Pradesh: Visuals from the spot of landslide in Shimla's Summer Hill area hit by landslide. Kalka-Shimla railway track at km 92/6-92/7 between Jutogh & Summer Hill railway stations is washed away due to heavy rains. The movement of trains between Kandaghat-Shimla… pic.twitter.com/ow94xWvWuc

  — ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2023

• Himachal Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla also visited the landslide- and cloudburst-hit sites, PTI's report mentioned officials as informing.
  
  
• Since Sunday evening, Kangra has received 273 mm of rain followed by Dharamshala 250 mm, Sundernagar 168 mm, Mandi 140 mm, Jubbarhatti 132 mm, Shimla 126 mm, Berthin 120  mm, Dhaulakaun 111 mm, and Nahan 107 mm, the report mentioned.  

The state emergency operation centre stated that Himachal has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 7,171 crore since the onset of monsoon season on June 24.

A total of 170 incidents of cloudburst and landslide have been reported in the hill state in the monsoon season this year while about 9,600 houses are said to be partially or completely damaged. 

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