Himachal Landslide: Death Toll Rises To 72 As Heavy Rain Continues To Batter Hill State — Top Points

As heavy downpour batters the hill state, triggering landslides in several districts, rescuers are tirelessly working to locate survivors.

Indian Air Force personnel rescue residents stranded in flood-affected areas of Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district. ( Image Source :PTI )

The monsoon this year has been devastating for Himachal Pradesh, with the hill state looking at a year-long period of recovery. As heavy downpour batters the hill state, triggering landslides in several districts, rescuers are tirelessly working to locate survivors. The death toll is, however, rising by the day. Rescue operations are going on in Summer Hill and Krishna Nagar areas.

Over 100 officials of the National Disaster Response Force, Indian Army, State Disaster Response Force and police were engaged in the rescue operations three days after a massive landslide hit Shimla's Summer Hill area in the hill state.

Here Are Top Points:

• The total number of deaths in rain-related incidents in the state since Sunday night has increased to 72, with Shimla alone accounting for 21 deaths, as reported by the news agency PTI.
• The death toll climbed to 72 after one more body was recovered from the debris of a collapsed Shiv temple in Shimla’s Summer Hill area, PTI reported, citing officials. The deceased was identified as Prof. PL. Sharma, Chairman, Department of Mathematics, Himachal Pradesh University.
• On Monday, the temple was crowded with devotees when the landslide struck. Eight people are still feared to be buried in the debris.
• So far, 14 bodies have been recovered from Summer Hill, five from Fagli, and two from Krishna Nagar, the Superintendent of Police, Shimla, Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, told PTI.
• IMD predicted light to moderate rain over the next few days in the state, with thunderstorms and lightning in isolated places.
• Principal Secretary (Revenue) Onkar Chand Sharma said on Wednesday that the losses in the monsoon season have touched 7,500 crore.
• SDM, Shimla (Urban), Bhanu Gupta had issued orders pertaining to the closure of all educational institutions in the Shimla Urban assembly segment on Thursday as several roads were blocked following heavy downpour and frequent landslides.
• As many as 650 roads were blocked in the state, and 1,135 transformers and 285 water supply schemes were disrupted.
• In an interview with PTI, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said that his state will take a year to rebuild the infrastructure damaged by the heavy rains this monsoon and claimed that the estimated loss from the two devastating spells of heavy rains this week and in July is about Rs 10,000 crore.
• The chief minister said it takes time to rebuild roads and water projects. But the government is speeding up the process. "We have to get the infrastructure fully restored within a year. I am working with this in mind." "It’s a big challenge, a mountain-like challenge," he had said.
• Former Himachal Pradesh CM slammed the state government over the disruption caused in the hill state and said that proper steps were not taken beforehand and that whatever actions were taken were taken post-disaster. "Whatever actions taken in Himachal Pradesh so far, are taken post-disaster. Arrangements should be made in the disaster-prone areas where severe damages could occur...Proper steps are not taken beforehand even in the capital city Shimla," said Jairam Thakur, as quoted by ANI.

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