Deaths and devastation from heavy rains continue in Himachal Pradesh as the main bridge in Baddi collapsed in the early hours of Friday and at least three more deaths were confirmed on Thursday.
Himachal has been battered by heavy rainfall for the past several weeks and the state has suffered great loss of life as well as property in various rain-related incidents, sucha as landslides, cloudbursts, flash-floods, etc. In the past two weeks alone, around 80 people have been killed in what Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu earlier described as unprecedented and unheard in state's history.
Hundreds of roads continue to be closed as parts of the roads have either been washed away or are blocked from the debris.
In Mandi, 50 stranded persons were rescued on Thursday and over 900 remain stranded who were provided with food via an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter.
The India Metereological Deparment (IMD) has predicted heavy rains in Himachal for Friday.
Here we provide the latest updates related to Himachal rains and the devasation caused.
Bridge washed away in Baddi
Amid heavy rainfall, the main bridge in Himachal's Baddi collapsed and caused disruption in road transport.
Visuals from the site show the bridge torn into two parts after a large chunk in the middle got washed away.
The Indian Express reported that the bridge was washed away around 3 am on Friday after a round of heavy rains in the area.
The authorities have written to the nearby districts to divert the flow of traffic to alternative routes as the Baddi bridge has become unusable.
Baddi SP Mohit Chawl told The Express, "We’ve contacted the Deputy Commissioners of Panchkula, Mohali, Ropar, and Chandigarh to oversee traffic inflow and outflow on the alternate routes created after the Baddi bridge collapse. Heavy commercial vehicles should be restricted from entering Baddi via Siswan and Marranwala to Siswan Panchkula during peak hours, 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM and 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM, for smoother traffic. This is essential as Baddi’s industrial traffic peaks during these hours."
51 rescued in Mandi
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel on Thursday rescued 51 people stranded in Shehnu Gouni and Kholanala villages in Mandi district after cloudburst incidents.
Sharing photographs of the rescue operation, CM Sukhu said, "Hats off to our diligent district administration in Mandi and the NDRF team for executing Operation Kholanala with utmost precision and compassion!"
950 people in relief camps in Kullu, Mandi
Around 950 people continue to remain in three relief camps in Kullu and Mandi districts. They have been provided with food and other essentials.
CM Sukhu on Thursday said around 800 people were in two camps in Mandi and 150 more were in a camp in Kullu.
"The Mandi-Kullu national highway has been severely damaged due to heavy landslides near Pandoh and it will take some time to restore it. The district administration has set up two relief camps along the highway at Pandoh and Aut in Mandi district offering shelter, food and other essential commodities to the stranded people. Today, food packets were provided to over 800 persons in these relief camps. Additional 150 individuals are being provided food at the Bajaura relief camp in Kullu," said Sukhu, as per The Tribune.
ANI reported that food and medicines were distributed in remote areas in Mandi with the help of Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters.
3 more deaths reported in Shimla
Three more deaths were confirmed on Thursday in Himachal's capital Shimla as bodies were recovered from Shiv Mandir at Summer Hill.
With the latest recovery of bodies, the death toll at the site has reached 20.
Shimla has been among the worst-hit districts in Shimla from incessent rains this month. At least 27 have been killed in three major landslides in the district. Besides the Summer Hill landslide, several houses were washed away in Fagli area where five died and a landslide in Krishnanagar area killed two.
Death toll teaches 367, Rs 12,000-worth damages incurred
With the latest recovery of bodies in Himachal's capital Shimla, the death toll has reached 367.
Of the 367 deceased, 177 have been killed in August alone, with at least 124 in August alone. Since August 14, around 80 people have been killed in various rain-related incidents. On August 14 alone, 51 deaths were reported across the state and CM Sukhu said at the time that such extend of death and devastation was unheard of in the history of the state.
Sukhu has put the financial extent of losses suffered to around Rs 12,000 crore. In the past several weeks, several bridges and dozens of houses have been damaged and hundreds of roads and highways have been damaged.
"The current monsoon season has wreaked havoc in the state, resulting in a huge loss of lives and property. More than 350 persons have died and the estimated losses are to the tune of Rs 12,000 crore. The state government is committed to ensuring the well-being of everyone. We are working tirelessly round the clock to provide every possible help to the needy in this hour of distress," said Sukhu on Thursday, as per The Tribune.
On Wednesday, at least eight deaths were reported and two people were reported to have gone missing in rain-related incidents.
Of the eight deaths, five took place in Mandi and three in Shimla, reported The Express, adding that two people went missing from different places in Mandi after landslides.
Over 700 roads closed, red alert in six districts
More than 700 roads remain closed in Himachal Pradesh and six districts have red alerts issued for them.
Overall, Himachal has a yellow alert and the weather forecast says the wet spell is likely to last till August 30, reported PTI.
"Though the MeT department forecast the wet spell to last till August 29, the red alert was issued for two days in Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan and Sirmaur districts," reported Hindustan Times on Thursday.
In updates on Thursday, the IMD said heavy rains are likely in Himachal on Friday and Saturday.
As many as 729 roads are closed in the state and several areas were without electricity as 2,897 power transformers were damaged, said Principal Secretary (revenue) Onkar Chand Sharma to PTI.
A number of buildings were also destroyed in a landlside caught on video in Kullu. No casualties were reported as the buildings had been vacated in advance.
