Himachal Pradesh Rains: 71 Dead and Loss of Rs.10,000 Crore
At least 71 people have died in the past three days and 13 are still missing in Himachal Pradesh after devastating rains.
At least 71 people have died in the past three days and 13 are still missing in Himachal Pradesh after devastating rains.
Heavy rains have battered the state since 13th August, triggering landslides in several districts including Shimla where three areas -- Summer Hill, Phagli and Krishna Nagar -- are badly hit by landslides. The death count from landslides and flash floods rose as rescuers pulled out more bodies from the rubble of collapsed buildings. Some bodies are still feared buried in the debris of the [Box 04 Shiva temple at Summer Hill that collapsed on 14th August. Reports of cloudbursts and landslides have emerged from various parts of the state resulting in loss of precious lives and property. Several houses have been vacated by the rescue workers and the families shifted to safer places. Several others have vacated their homes themselves fearing slides due to incessant rains. The Education department of the state ordered closure of all schools and colleges. Himachal Pradesh University has suspended teaching activities till 19th August 2023. Officials said, about 800 roads are blocked in the state adding that more than 10, 700 houses have been completely or partially damaged so far. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Army along with police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are involved in the rescue operations.
In an interview Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the work of rebuilding infrastructure would be "mountain-like-challenge”. It will take a year to rebuild the infrastructure wrecked by the heavy rains this monsoon and claimed that the estimated loss in the two devastating spells of heavy rains - this week and in July - is about ? 10,000 crore. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri has urged the Centre to declare national calamity in Himachal Pradesh and release ? 2,000 crore for restoration works. According to the state emergency operation center, in total 214 people have died in the rain-related incidents in the state since the onset of monsoon on 24th June 2023 while 38 are still missing.
