Fresh spell of rain wreaks havoc: 8 die, 2 missing after flash floods, landslides

In Shimla, a couple died in their temporary house due to landslide in Baldeyan area, while a few trees got uprooted on Mall Road near the CM’s residence. A 5-year-old child died in Junga Tehsil of Shimla after a gate fell on him.

Vehicles stuck in debris following a recent cloudburst at Saat Meel in Mandi, Sunday. (PTI)

While Sanjauli-Chhota Shimla road was closed after a landslide hit the area, a flash flood occurred in Sabath area of Solan district. Information revealed that a few vehicles got washed away in the flash flood and some houses were damaged, but the exact details were yet to be revealed. According to officials in Mandi, the cloudburst affected the Seraj and Drang constituencies the most, with the situation in Seraj being worse.

Mandi additional district magistrate (ADM) Madan Kumar said a 40-year-old man, Permanand, and his granddaughter Goppi Devi (15) died after their house collapsed in a landslide in the Dagail village of Seraj constituency. According to sources, even before the administration could take any step, the villagers, amid heavy rainfall, unearthed the bodies from under the debris. Kumar said two persons, Mamta (17) of the Dagail village and Purnu Devi (46) of the Jainshilla area are still missing after landslides hit the areas.

He added, “In Baggi village, a 24-year-old youth identified as Nok Chand drowned after the cloudburst led to a flash flood in the Kuklah area. The authorities managed to rescue two others here.” The flash floods also claimed lives of Teja Ram, a resident of Jhout village, and Lakshmi Devi of Mandi Sadar area. An official of the Mandi district administration said while heavy losses have been reported from the Seraj and Drang constituencies, an assessment is yet to be carried out. The official added that a school building in the Kalhani gram panchayat was also damaged due to the incessant rain, while sources said several houses have been damaged in the landslides that hit the two constituencies.

Kumar further said, “While the Mandi-Kullu National Highway has been lying closed due to landslides for a while, the alternate route, which was created a few days ago, was closed on Wednesday amid fresh landslides. Around 350 vehicles are stuck on this route and several teams are working to clear the stretch.”

Amid the heavy rainfall in different parts of the state, as many as 530 roads have been shut, in addition to the 280 stretches that were closed on Tuesday, the state government said.

Meanwhile, three National Highways — NH21 (Mandi to Kullu), NH154 (Mandi to Pathankot) and NH05 (Parwanoo to Chambaghat) — are also closed.

The state government had earlier ordered closure of schools from August 23 to August 26 as a precautionary measure.

An official of the Mandi district administration said, “It has been raining heavily since Wednesday morning due to which several roads have been closed, while landslides have also happened in some pockets. The field reports are yet to be received.” The alternate route for Mandi to Kullu has also been damaged due to which nearly 350 vehicles are stuck on the road. Relief camps have been set up near that area for the local residents and for the stranded people as well, the ADM Mandi added.

In Shimla, several trees were uprooted due to the rain leading to several roads getting blocked. According to officials, minor landslides have only added to the woes.

The rainfall has also led to 2,807 power distribution transformers (DTR) getting damaged across the state. Till Tuesday morning, the figure stood at 703. Similarly, while till Tuesday 106 water supply schemes (WSS) were affected, on Wednesday, the number climbed to 214, said a government official.

A resident of Kullu, Mohinder Singh Chawla, told The Indian Express, “We are witnessing heavy rainfall here. Several tunnels are blocked due to the rainwater.”

Since June 24, as many as 348 people have died due to monsoon-led natural calamities such as heavy rainfall, landslides, cloudbursts, building collapses and others. A total of 336 people have been injured in the incidents, while 2,230 houses have been fully damaged and 9,819 houses partially damaged. As many as 200 shops and 4,695 cowsheds have also been damaged, the state disaster management department said.