17 people die, 6 injured, 37 missing in various rain related accidents in HP

Shimla, Aug 14 – As many as 17 people died, and six were injured after getting buried under landslides and collapsed buildings in Himachal Pradesh in the past 24 hours even as 37 others are missing under the debris.

According to state CPI(M) counselor Verinder Thakur of Summerhill Shimla MC, five bodies were evacuated from a shrine near Bioleuganj and 25 others are buried in the rubbles.

He said State Disaster Response Force is evacuating bodies as 25 devotees were buried alive under Shivmandir temple near Bioleuganj on the outskirts of the capital town as a landslide hit the temple during morning prayers on Monday.

Police sources said devotees gathered in the shrine around 0700 hrs for special prayers on Monday. A massive landslide occurred on the Andadi road near the Totu-Shimla Railway line and hit the temple.

A massive landslide over the railway line hit the temple after increasing rainfall overnight.

SDRF Jawan is evacuating the victims from the rubble. Victims could be heard under the rubble seeking assistance.

The incident occurred when a number of devotees were busy preparing ‘ Khir ‘Parsad ‘ for special prayers early Monday.

As per initial reports received from the spot, a landslide struck the Shiv baudi area between Summerhill and Boilueganj and a number of people were under the debris.

State Disaster Management Authority said devasting rain in the past 24 hours has claimed a number of casualties in the state.

Reports arriving that a massive landslide has hit Boilueganj area of Shimla, claiming a Shiv mandir in which around 25-30 people are expected to be affected.

Seven people including four children were buried alive and six injured, four of them seriously following cloudburst at Jadon village in Jadhana gram panchayat under Kunihar police station in Kandaghat subdivision in this district, Sunday night.

Besides, the muck that slided down after cloudburst has also washed away cowsheds and caused massive damage to residential buildings of Harnam Singh and Rati Ram at the villages. The livestock has also been feared to be dead after cloudburst as the region was experiencing torrential rains during the past 48 hours.

The deceased were identified Harnam singh ( 38), Khem lata w/o Harnam Singh (34), Rahul s/o Harnam Singh (13),Neha d/o Harnam Singh (11), Kamal kishore s/o Bhagat ram (38), Gaurav s/o Kamal kishore (9) and Raksha d/o Kamal kishore (12).

The incident is said to have taken place at midnight when the villagers were in deep sleep. Meanwhile, the district administration has deployed earth moving machines to clear the landslides on the road connecting the village and Jadhana panchayat.

The immediate relief and rescue operations were launched by the villages of the area as the road connecting the village was blocked following the triggering of landslides at several places.

Deputy Commissioner Hamirpur Hemraj Bairwa said on Monday due to incessant rains in the district , there has been a lot of damage to public and private property . He said during the last 24 hours, three people have died in the district and two are missing.

An information just received said once many trees and debris hit a suburb near Lal Kothi in Phagli, and many dharas(shanties) have collapsed. The administration fear that nine to ten people were buried in the affected colony.

Rescue team of administration has reached the spot and started rescuing the people. Information has been received that one person has died in this accident.

According to CPI(M) leader Bhupinder Singh Prabhas Rana died while trying to rescue a family after their house collapsed in Taniyar village sunday night. He couldn’t be taken to the hospital due to rainaffected road . Comrade Rana was former Pradhan of Dharampur, Panchayat Samiti and member and former president of SFI and CITU.

In the state, death toll to rainfury went up to near 274 and 17 died in last 24 hrs ,however, casualty could mount to 46 as number of others are burried under the debries.

A report received from Kangra said around 75 people were trapped in flooded water in a Adwani stone crasher under Jawali Subdivision of Kangra district. Rescue operation couldn’t start.