Rescue Op Continues In Shimla Temple Collapse Site, 17 Bodies Recovered So Far: Official

So far, 17 bodies have been recovered while two bodies from a family of seven are yet to be recovered, according to the official.

One rescue operation continues at Summer Hill in Shimla where a Shiv temple collapsed earlier this month killing several people. So far, 17 bodies have been recovered while two bodies from a family of seven are yet to be recovered, according to the official, news agency ANI reported.

Speaking with media, Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena stated: "After 14th August, the main emphasis is on rescue operations. One rescue operation in Shiv Mandir is still going on. 17 bodies have been recovered. Two bodies from a family of seven are yet to be found. We have a feeling that there are three more bodies, they are expected to be recovered in 2-3 days."

In Himachal Pradesh, the death toll from rain-related accidents has risen to 78.

According to the Superintendent of Shimla Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, 24 of the 78 deaths since Sunday night occurred in Shimla alone – 17 at the Shiv shrine on Summer Hill, five in Fagli, and two in Krishnanagar, PTI reported.

According to the state emergency operations centre, 338 people have perished in rain-related events and traffic accidents in HP since the monsoon began on June 24, with 38 individuals still missing. Rain-related incidents killed 221 people in HP, according to PTI's report.

The Himachal Sukhu government proclaimed the state a "Natural Calamity Affected Area" due to the destruction caused by torrential rainfall, loss of life, and substantial property damage. The state administration also petitioned the federal government to designate the catastrophe in the state a national disaster.