At least 54 lives have been tragically lost in Himachal Pradesh due to devastating landslides, plunging the scenic city of Shimla into despair. The ongoing rain havoc has wreaked havoc in the region, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The state has been grappling with the aftermath of heavy downpours, which triggered landslides and caused widespread damage.
The ferocity of the landslides was evident when four more bodies were discovered at a Shiv temple in Shimla’s Summerhill, adding to the mounting death toll. In a tragic twist of fate, another person lost their life in a fresh landslide that struck the state capital. The relentless rains have battered Himachal Pradesh for two consecutive days, leaving communities in distress and infrastructure severely compromised.
In an unfortunate turn of events, the renowned Shimla-Kalka railway line, listed as a Unesco world heritage site, suffered significant damage near Summerhill. A colossal landslide washed away a 50-meter bridge, leaving a section of the track precariously suspended. These circumstances have left residents and authorities concerned about the extent of devastation and the challenging road to recovery.
The Pong dam authorities, faced with the unrelenting rains, were compelled to release water in a controlled manner on Monday evening. However, this measure unintentionally left villagers in low-lying areas along the Beas river stranded. Prompt action was taken by the authorities, and on Tuesday evening, a commendable rescue effort successfully saved 766 people in the Fatehpur and Indora sub-divisions of Kangra district.
The merciless landslides shook Shimla to its core, completely demolishing a Shiv temple on Monday morning. Tragically, the bodies of a dozen devotees were recovered from the site, significantly elevating the death toll to 54. Deploying additional resources for rescue and search operations, a team from the National Disaster Response Force joined the efforts. Concerns persist as local residents report that at least nine familiar faces remain missing, raising the possibility of others still buried beneath the debris or carried away by the swollen Beas river.
Another landslide struck Shimla on Tuesday, resulting in the collapse of five houses in the Krishna Nagar area. Prior to the incident, the houses had been evacuated due to visible cracks in their walls. However, fate had dealt a cruel blow as a portion of the hillside crashed down, burying the wreckage of the houses alongside a slaughterhouse where some workers were present. The Superintendent of Police in Shimla, Sanjeev Gandhi, confirmed the recovery of one body from the debris while acknowledging the potential for more individuals to be trapped.
With rescue operations gaining momentum, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed concern that the death toll might rise further. In response to the dire situation, Kangra’s deputy commissioner, Nipun Jindal, sought assistance from the Indian Air Force to rescue the stranded individuals. Two Indian Air Force helicopters were deployed, successfully rescuing a total of 213 people in multiple sorties.
As the affected region grapples with the aftermath of this natural disaster, it becomes crucial to address the immediate needs of the affected population. The road to recovery will undoubtedly be long and arduous, requiring a coordinated effort from both the government and humanitarian organizations. Although the focus remains primarily on rescue and relief operations, an equally important task will be the assessment and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure.
The devastating landslides in Shimla serve as a stark reminder of the immense power of nature and the vulnerability of human settlements in the face of such calamities. As the affected communities attempt to rebuild their lives, support and assistance from neighboring regions and the international community will be invaluable in restoring hope and normalcy to this picturesque part of India.
