Death Toll Rises to 72 Amid Devastating Rain Fury in Himachal Pradesh
The death toll in the wake of severe rainfall wreaking havoc in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh has surged to 72, with more casualties reported as rescue operations continue. The most recent fatality was identified as Professor P.L. Sharma, the Chairman of the Department of Mathematics at Himachal Pradesh University, whose body was recovered from the debris of a collapsed Shiv temple in the Summer Hill area.
The tragedy unfolded on Monday when heavy rains triggered a landslide, engulfing the temple that was crowded with devotees at the time. Fears persist that eight individuals may still be buried under the debris.
The monsoon rains, which commenced on Sunday, have unleashed considerable destruction across several districts, including Shimla. The capital city alone has witnessed 21 deaths out of the overall toll.
Efforts to rescue trapped individuals are underway in Summer Hill and Krishna Nagar areas. So far, 14 bodies have been retrieved from Summer Hill, five from Fagli, and two from Krishna Nagar. Shimla’s Superintendent of Police, Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, informed that the death toll from three landslide incidents, namely Summer Hill, Fagli, and Krishna Nagar, has now reached 21.
According to Principal Secretary (Revenue) Onkar Chand Sharma, the losses incurred during this monsoon season have surpassed 7,500 crore Indian Rupees (approximately $1 billion).
In light of the incessant rainfall and numerous landslides causing road blockages and disruptions, the SDM of Shimla (Urban), Bhanu Gupta, issued a directive to shut down all educational institutions in the Shimla Urban assembly segment on Thursday.
The perilous weather conditions have left a trail of devastation, with over 650 roads blocked, 1,135 transformers damaged, and 285 water supply schemes disrupted across the state.
In an interview with PTI, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu expressed his belief that it will take an entire year to rebuild the infrastructure damaged by the heavy rains. He estimated a staggering loss of around 10,000 crore Indian Rupees (approximately $1.3 billion) from the two destructive spells of heavy precipitation, experienced this week and in July.
Sukhu acknowledged the challenge ahead, likening it to scaling a mountain, but assured that his government is committed to expediting the restoration process. We have to get the infrastructure fully restored within a year. I am working with this in mind, he stated.
The road to recovery will undoubtedly be arduous, requiring significant efforts and resources. However, there is a determination to rebuild Himachal Pradesh, mending the extensive damage caused by the ravaging rains.
