SHIMLA: Flash flood and landslides triggered by incessant rainfall in Himachal Pradesh have caused extensive damage.
In the flash floods and landslides, 15 people have been killed and 8 are missing so far, a couple of bridges including British era Chakki bridge, located along Pathankot-Jogindernagar rail line in Kangra district, have also been washed away while over half a dozen roads including Chandigarh-Manali national highway are blocked.
Heavy rains have caused havoc in Himachal Pradesh since Friday night. According to officials, in the flash floods and landslides, 11 cattle have died while 8 are missing. Across state 14 houses, 5 cowsheds, 6 vehicles and coupe of bridges have also been damaged while 7 roads are closed.
In Mandi district, 8 members of a family belonging to the panchayat pradhan Khem Singh were killed at Kashan village under Gohar sivb division after their house collapsed in a landslide and all of them got stuck under the debris. The district administration with the help of police, NDRF and SDRF had launched the rescue operation to save those trapped under the debris. Deputy commissioner Arindam Chaudhary and SP Shalini Agnihotri had also reached at the spot but even lot of efforts family members could not be saved as from the debris only the dead bodies were recovered.
In Mandi district, a flash flood triggered by cloud burst resulted into the death of 2 persons and washing away of 5 houses. In Hamirpur district, 22 persons were left stranded in the roof top of the building near Beas river at Kheiri village under Sujanpur tehsil and all were rescued by the administration.
In the state, 3 persons including a woman were killed in Chamba district after a house located in Banet village of Bhatityat tehsil collapsed during landslide incident at around 4.30 am on Saturday. In Kangra district, a flash flood incident occurred at Gagal Khas village at around 6.38 am one person was killed while another person killed in a separate incident of flash flood at Kuthed village of Shahpur tehsil at around 8.18 am.
In wake of heavy rainfall warning, Deputy Commissioner, Kullu, Ashutosh Garg has ordered to close all schools (government and private) including the Anganwadi Centres throughout the district. Even Deputy Commissioner, Mandi,A rindam Chaudhary has ordered the closure of all the schools including the Anganwadi Centres in Mandi district.
In Kangra district, the Chakki rail bridge along at Kandwal in Kangra district along Pathankot-Joginder rail track has also been washed away with this now the rail connectivity has been suspended till the time new bridge is not constructed or old bridge is not repaired. Dharampur area of Mandi has also been submerged by flooding water. Landslide at Pandoh in Mandi district has also blocked the Chandigarh-Manali national highway-21.
