Lagatar24 Desk
Shimla, August 14: Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that 29 people have died as a result of rain-related incidents in the state, which has seen constant downpours disrupt daily life.
An official reported that a cloudburst that struck a community in the Solan district resulted in the deaths of seven family members. Late on Sunday night, the incident took place in the village of Jadon.
A temple in Shimla collapsed on Monday after being hit by a landslide brought on by heavy rain, leaving nine people dead and many more perhaps trapped under the rubble.
In addition to expressing his sympathies for the loss of life, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that attempts are being made to free anyone trapped under the rubble of the fallen temple in the Summer Hill area.
“As of now, nine bodies have been retrieved. The local administration is diligently working to clear the debris in order to rescue individuals who may still be trapped,” the Himachal Pradesh chief minister said in a post on the ‘X’ app (formerly known as Twitter).
Along with state minister Vikramaditya Singh, Sukhu went to the location of the Lord Shiva temple.
Shimla’s Superintendent of Police (SP), Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, had previously stated that a landslide had hit the temple and that nearby buildings were also in danger. “Several people have been stranded. We are waiting for more details,” he said.
Army, NDRF and SDRF personnel are present on the scene to conduct efforts to rescue the stranded persons.
“I have cancelled my pre-scheduled event in Mandi. August 15 Independence Day program will go on as usual but our priority is to save lives,” Chief Minister Sukhu said.
Some bodies have been found buried beneath the temple’s debris in Summer Hill, according to State Minister Vikramaditya Singh.
“Ten to 15 people are still buried under the debris. All efforts are being made to safely rescue people,” Singh said.
Over the past 24 hours, persistent rains in Himachal Pradesh have caused landslides that have blocked multiple roads, including the Shimla-Chandigarh road, which was closed to buses and trucks.
The Education Secretary has issued a notification instructing all government, private schools and colleges to be closed on August 14 as per the Chief Minister’s orders.
The Chief Minister has given orders to all district collectors, Home Secretary and Chief Secretary to keep a watchful eye on the situation brought on by the severe rains. He advised the administrative staff to keep things running well with regard to the roads, power and water.
Overseeing rescue operations after the tragic landslide near Shiv Temple in Summerhill, Shimla. Utmost priority is being given to saving lives and the government is fully committed to ensuring the safety of those trapped.
My heartfelt prayers for the safety and well-being of… pic.twitter.com/LqI8YZhgJw— Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (@SukhuSukhvinder) August 14, 2023
