Himachal Pradesh: Another Landslide in Shimla, Death Toll Climbs to 60
New Delhi: Another landslide occurred in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla on Wednesday in the city’s Summer Hill region, Mint reported. A search and rescue operation was initiated with sniffer dogs and rescue personnel present at the site, the report said. The death toll in Himachal Pradesh has climbed to 60 as heavy rain batters the state, the Times of India reported.
SDM, Shimla (Urban) Bhanu Gupta, in an interview to ANI, said that out of an estimated 21 people buried under the rubble, they have managed to recover the bodies of 12. The rescue team consists of personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army, local police and the home guard, Gupta said.
#WATCH | Himachal Pradesh: On the massive landslide in the Summer Hill area, SDM Shimla (Urban) Bhanu Gupta says, "Local people have confirmed the count that there can be 21 bodies. Out of which, we have recovered 12 bodies in the last two days. Our search and rescue operation is… https://t.co/sjD6uLAKci pic.twitter.com/ufwSJPe1ue
— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2023
Heavy rain continues to wreak havoc in multiple areas of Himachal Pradesh, causing widespread damage to buildings and properties, Mint reported.
All schools and colleges across Himachal Pradesh will remain closed till August 19 in view of the extreme weather, NDTV reported.
In neighbouring Uttarakhand, The Dehradun Met department has predicted light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms at Nainital, Champawat and Udham Singh Nagar districts, at many places in Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri and Almora districts and at a few places in the remaining districts of Uttarakhand.
According to the NDTV report, officials said at least 800 roads are blocked in the state due to landslides and the state has suffered losses worth thousands of crores this monsoon season.
Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has said his state would take a year to recover from the damage incurred in this year’s monsoon season and the estimated loss in the two devastating spells of heavy rain – this week and in July – is about Rs 10,000 crore, NDTV reported.
Both Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have witnessed dozens of deaths this monsoon and are set to receive more rain, according to weather forecasts, the report said.
The Himachal Pradesh government has sought help from the Union government and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should declare Himachal Pradesh a disaster-hit state, NDTV reported.
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