Incessant rains kill 51 in Himachal

Incessant rains battered several districts of Himachal Pradesh, including Solan, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Hamirpur, Kangra and Chamba, over the past 24 hours, killing at least 51 people and injuring several others.

Landslide buries devotees in Shiva temple

A Shiva temple in Shimla's Summer Hill collapsed on Monday morning, killing over a dozen people. The incident took place when an aarti was going on and, according to locals, more than 30 people were inside. [caption id="attachment_8891839" align="alignnone" width="600"] Before and after photos of the collapse of a temple in Shimla's Summer Hill area (Express Photo)[/caption]

Why the sudden rains?

According to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the sudden rainfall is due to a reported cloudburst, which refers to a localised intense rain activity, mostly seen in hilly areas. As Express's Explained team described, "A cloudburst has a very specific definition: Rainfall of 10 cm or more in an hour over a roughly 10 km x 10 km area is classified as a cloudburst event. By this definition, 5 cm of rainfall in a half-hour period over the same area would also be categorised as a cloudburst."

Railway track washed away

The rainfall caused widespread damage including the washing away of the Kalka-Shimla railway track between Jutogh and Summer Hill railway stations. The Himachal government announced that trains between Kandaghat-Shimla stand cancelled until further notice. Himachal Pradesh | Kalka-Shimla railway track at km 92/6-92/7 between Jutogh & Summer Hill railway stations is washed away due to heavy rains. The movement of trains between Kandaghat-Shimla is cancelled: State government pic.twitter.com/JfElYbHNcq — ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2023

CM Sukhu visits affected areas

CM Sukhu visited several disaster-hit villages and hospitals housing the injured. Issuing condolences to the deceased, the CM said that while the loss of precious lives in the accident could not be compensated with any financial assistance, the state government will do all needful to heal the wounds of the affected. सोलन जिले के ममलीग तहसील के जडोंन गांव में विनाशकारी बादल फटने की घटना स्थल का दौरा किया। इस दुःखद घटना में हमने 7 जिंदगियों को खोया है । प्रकृति के इस केहर ने हमे कभी न भरने वाले ज़ख्म दिए है। जैसे ही मैं मलबे के बीच खड़ा हुआ, मुझे उन लोगों का दर्द महसूस हुआ जिन्होंने वहां… pic.twitter.com/ND9bz74GlY — Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (@SukhuSukhvinder) August 14, 2023

The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for the next 24 hours in several parts of the state including Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur and Hamirpur. #WATCH | Shimla: Bui Lal, IMD Deputy Director, Himachal Pradesh says, "Several places in Himachal Pradesh received rainfall in the last 24 hours...For August 15, a 'yellow' alert has been issued which includes Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur and Hamirpur." pic.twitter.com/B5F9xokxmB — ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2023

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This is an archive article published on August 15, 2023

Himachal rains: Over 50 killed in landslides; yellow alert in Kullu, Shimla today

Among the casualties were devotees at the Shiva temple in the Summer Hill area that collapsed killing over a dozen people.

Rescuers remove mud and debris as they search for people feared trapped after a landslide near a temple on the outskirts of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, Aug.14, 2023. (AP)

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Heavy rains wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh again this week, killing more than 50 people, causing landslides and damaging roads, houses and other utilities. A yellow alert has been issued in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur and Hamirpur for today (Aug 15).

Among the casualties were devotees at the Shiva temple in the Summer Hill area that collapsed killing over a dozen people. Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visited the spot and said: “This havoc of nature has given us wounds that will never heal. As I stood amidst the rubble, I felt the pain of those who lost their loved ones and homes there. I would like to tell all the affected in this hour of disaster that they are not alone in this difficult time. We stand firmly with all the affected families and promise all possible assistance.”

Here are key points to note:

01
Incessant rains kill 51 in Himachal
Incessant rains battered several districts of Himachal Pradesh, including Solan, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Hamirpur, Kangra and Chamba, over the past 24 hours, killing at least 51 people and injuring several others.
02
Landslide buries devotees in Shiva temple
A Shiva temple in Shimla's Summer Hill collapsed on Monday morning, killing over a dozen people. The incident took place when an aarti was going on and, according to locals, more than 30 people were inside.

Before and after photos of the collapse of a temple in Shimla's Summer Hill area (Express Photo)
03
Why the sudden rains?
According to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the sudden rainfall is due to a reported cloudburst, which refers to a localised intense rain activity, mostly seen in hilly areas.

As Express's Explained team described, "A cloudburst has a very specific definition: Rainfall of 10 cm or more in an hour over a roughly 10 km x 10 km area is classified as a cloudburst event. By this definition, 5 cm of rainfall in a half-hour period over the same area would also be categorised as a cloudburst."
04
Railway track washed away
The rainfall caused widespread damage including the washing away of the Kalka-Shimla railway track between Jutogh and Summer Hill railway stations. The Himachal government announced that trains between Kandaghat-Shimla stand cancelled until further notice.

Himachal Pradesh | Kalka-Shimla railway track at km 92/6-92/7 between Jutogh & Summer Hill railway stations is washed away due to heavy rains. The movement of trains between Kandaghat-Shimla is cancelled: State government pic.twitter.com/JfElYbHNcq

— ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2023
05
CM Sukhu visits affected areas
CM Sukhu visited several disaster-hit villages and hospitals housing the injured. Issuing condolences to the deceased, the CM said that while the loss of precious lives in the accident could not be compensated with any financial assistance, the state government will do all needful to heal the wounds of the affected.

सोलन जिले के ममलीग तहसील के जडोंन गांव में विनाशकारी बादल फटने की घटना स्थल का दौरा किया। इस दुःखद घटना में हमने 7 जिंदगियों को खोया है । प्रकृति के इस केहर ने हमे कभी न भरने वाले ज़ख्म दिए है। जैसे ही मैं मलबे के बीच खड़ा हुआ, मुझे उन लोगों का दर्द महसूस हुआ जिन्होंने वहां… pic.twitter.com/ND9bz74GlY

— Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (@SukhuSukhvinder) August 14, 2023
06
Yellow alert today
The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for the next 24 hours in several parts of the state including Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur and Hamirpur.

#WATCH | Shimla: Bui Lal, IMD Deputy Director, Himachal Pradesh says, "Several places in Himachal Pradesh received rainfall in the last 24 hours...For August 15, a 'yellow' alert has been issued which includes Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur and Hamirpur." pic.twitter.com/B5F9xokxmB

— ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2023