22 killed, 12 hurt in Himachal’s highest ever rainfall, landslides

SHIMLA: At least 22 people were killed and 12 others injured in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, even as the local Indian Meteorological Department said that the hilly state received the highest ever rainfall for a 24-hour period, since records began almost 70 years ago.
Hundreds remained stranded after incessant rainfall triggered landslides, snapped road links, led to shutting down of hydropower projects and release of excess water from a dam, an official said, adding that the total loss to the state property amounted to Rs 490 crore.
Traffic on the Chandigarh-Manali Highway was blocked between Mandi and Kullu towns following massive landslides along the swollen Beas river. The Mandi-Jogindernagar Highway was also closed for traffic.
Officials said teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had been called in Kangra's Nurpur and Solan's Nalagarh subdivisions to meet any eventuality.
Nine people died in Shimla, five in Solan, two each in Kullu, Sirmaur and Chamba and one each in Bilaspur and Lahaul-Spiti districts, they added.
Four persons are missing in Kumarsain in Shimla district and around a hundred people are stranded in parts of the hill-state as various roads have been damaged, officials said.
Landslides hit a spot near the RTO office here, leaving three persons dead.
One person sustained injuries in the incident, police said.
In Narkand area of Shimla district, two Nepalese died and three were injured after when a tree fell on their house.
In another incident, a labourer was killed and six injured as the wall of a house collapsed in the Lower Cemetery area following heavy rainfall early Sunday, police said.
The deceased has been identified as Shah Alam, who hailed from Bihar's Kishanganj district.
In another incident, a man was killed after a landslide hit his truck on the national highway near Hatkoti Kenchi in Shimla's Rohru subdivision.
In Chamba district, two persons were killed in a house collapse.
The incident took place at Lona in Mehla subdivision at 3.30 am, killing a 70-year-old man and a 7-year-old child, Chamba SP Monica Bhutunguru said.
In Kullu, a man was washed away in Sujwad Nullah when locals were trying to rescue him.
The deceased has been identified as Chooni Lal.
Besides, a tourist died due to a landslide in Balarga between Manikaran and Barsheni, Kullu Deputy Commissioner Richa Verma said.
In Nalagarh of Solan district, five persons were killed and three injured in four rain-related incidents.
Due to heavy rains, district officials in the state have ordered closure of all educational institutions in Shimla and Kullu on Monday.
Gates of the Pandoh and the Nathpa Jhakri dams in Himachal Pradesh are being opened as the water level in the Beas and Sutlej rivers is very high. People have been requested to stay away from rivers, rivulets and streams to avoid any untoward incident, officials said.
Train services between Shimla and Kalka were disrupted on Sunday after multiple landslides blocked the rail route in the state.

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