Tragedy Strikes Himachal: 70 Lives Feared Lost in Devastating Deluge; Search and Rescue Efforts Intensify Amid RED ALERT
Image Source: Rozana Spokesman
In a devastating turn of events, the Chief Minister Office (CMO) of Himachal Pradesh has reported that a staggering 70 lives have been lost due to the onslaught of flooding and landslides, leaving 13 individuals still unaccounted for. The relentless heavy rainfall has triggered widespread flooding and landslides, particularly affecting Shimla and various districts, resulting in the closure of a staggering 700 roads across the state. This incident took place around 07:30 hrs. (7:30 am) on Monday during the time of Aarti.
According to locals, there were 21 to 30 people inside the shrine. As of now, search and rescue teams have managed to recover a minimum of 13 bodies from the debris. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier issued a RED ALERT for the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, anticipating heavy to very heavy rainfall on Wednesday. All schools and colleges were shut in Himachal on Wednesday.
To address the unfolding crisis, a collaborative effort involving multiple response forces has been launched. The Army, Airforce, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have all been actively engaged in evacuation operations across the affected regions. Remarkably, over 1700 individuals have been successfully evacuated and relocated to relief camps.
In the midst of this disaster, Himachal Pradesh’s CM Sikhvinder Singh Suku informed through Twitter that, “More than 1100 people were evacuated from the low-lying area of Kangra district through helicopters and motorboats. Migrant laborers were safely relocated to relief camps and secure areas.” He conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas. He also said the state has suffered a loss of Rs.10,000 crores due to heavy rains this monsoon since July, and it will take at least one year to reconstruct the damaged infrastructure.
He blamed faulty structural design and construction work for the destruction. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) should go for tunneling mountains more scientifically instead of widening the roads, he added. Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri has urged the center to declare a national calamity in Himachal Pradesh and provide the fund of Rs. 2000 Crores.
Meanwhile, in the neighboring state of Uttarakhand, two died and two are seriously injured after a house collapsed in the Helang area of Joshi Math town. In another heart-wrenching incident, the lifeless body of a 14-year-old girl was recovered from a flooded stream in the Lakshman Jhula area of Rishikesh. The death toll rose to 10 after rescuers recovered four more bodies, including a couple and their son.
-Kashish Kishore
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