18 August 2023, Mumbai: Heavy rains have lashed the hill state since Sunday, triggering landslides in several districts, including Shimla. The death toll in rain-battered Himachal Pradesh has risen to 75 and 22 of these deaths were in the three major landslides in Shimla alone.
Govt declared Natural Disaster
“The state of Himachal Pradesh has witnessed unprecedented loss of human lives and huge destruction, damage and loss to public and private property during the ongoing monsoon season. The entire state has been badly ravaged by incessant ain leading to floods, cloudbursts, landslides, and slope failure taking heavy toll of lives and property. Thousands of dwelling units have been damaged or destroyed,” the government said.
“Keeping in view the unprecedented grave situation leading loss of human life and damage, destruction and loss 0f public infrastructure and private property, the state government. Has decided to declare the whole State of Himachal Pradesh as “natural calamity affected area”,” it added.
Destruction all-over the state
Since the onset of the monsoon on June 24, 217 persons have died in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh and 11,301 houses have been partially or completely damaged, according to the state emergency operation centre.A total of 506 roads are still closed in the state and 408 transformers and 149 water supply schemes have been disrupted. In the last few days, thousands have been evacuated from flooded areas.
Monsoon fury in Himachal Pradesh
Amid fresh reports of flash floods and landslides caused by heavy rain in the state, the death toll due to rain-related incidents has risen to 74, and the rescue teams are still carrying out operations near the temple collapse site in Shimla, where eight more people are feared buried.
On Thursday, chief minister Sukhu visited flood and severely rain-affected areas in the Mandi district – Matehdi, Baldwara, Maseran, and Jukain of Sarkaghat assembly.Meanwhile, the IMD has predicted scattered rainfall in the next four to five days and controlled rainfall in the state until August 25.
Chhattisgarh CM announces ₹11 crore aid
Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday announced to provide a financial assistance of ₹11 crore to Himachal Pradesh, the hill state that has been worst-hit by the monsoon rains, news agency PTI reported quoting a government official.
Baghel on Thursday spoke to Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu over phone and took stock of the situation in the northern state and assured to extend support to deal with it.
By ASC Priya