Two killed,key power projects hit after heavy rain in HP

Two persons were killed in Himachal Pradesh as incessant rain triggered house collapse and landslides at many places cutting off several parts of the state and forcing the government to shut down major hydel projects affecting power supply to several northern states.

One person was buried under debris after a house collapsed in Chamba district while a woman died after being struck by lightning in Bilaspur. Meanwhile,many hydropower projects were shut down due to rising silt levels affecting power supply to Delhi,Punjab,Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir.

The countrys largest Nathpa-Jhakri hydropower (1,500 MW),Karchham-Wangtoo (1,000 MW) Baspa (300 MW) and Chamera -I and Chamera-II (600 MW) were closed Monday due to an alarming rise in silt level. Additional chief secretary (power and revenue),Deepak Sanan,said the distrcit has suffered a loss to the tune of Rs 61 crore so far.

CM Prem Kumar Dhumal,who was in Shimla on Tuesday,said The DCs will send a report on the loss suffered so that the government can take up the issue with the Centre for sending relief.