At least 26 people have died in several rain-related incidents in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, while authorities fear this number may rise.
Nine people died after a landslide hit a Shiv temple near Shimla city, leaving at least 20-25 trapped.
In Solan district, seven members of a family were killed while many were feared missing in the Mandi district. In Mandi’s Dharampur area, four people reportedly died after their house struck in landslide. Two lives were also lost in Balera village of Solan district.
Meanwhile, in another incident in Shimla, a dozen people were feared buried under another landslide in Shimla’s Phagli. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was among the agencies carrying out a rescue operation.
State chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla visited the landslide-affected area in Shimla.
The governor said that all the events related to Independence Day at Raj Bhavan (Governor’s House) have been postponed and only a flag hoisting will be carried out.
Meanwhile, the state chief said that he had canceled his pre-scheduled program for Independence Day as state government priorities lie in saving lives and rescue operations.
Sukhu has also appealed to people to stay indoors and avoid going near drains or rivers.
As per the state government data, 621 roads, including major highways in the state, are currently closed for vehicular traffic.
Netizens have shared videos that show vehicles and buildings being swept away by gushing rivers, trees falling on cars, and tourists stranded due to road closures.
Heavy Rainfalls in Uttarakhand
The Himalayan state Uttarakhand also witnessed heavy rainfalls which damaged roads and houses.
The river Ganga in Haridwar district was flowing above the danger mark at 294.90 meters. The Disaster Management Authority has rescued dozens of people in the state.
The meteorological department issued a red alert for heavy rains on Monday.
The mountainous state has been reeling under incessant monsoon showers, leaving 60 people dead and 17 missing while affecting everyday life.
State chief Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted a high-level meeting to assess the impact of the rainfall situation within the state and directed officials to maintain constant vigilance.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday that isolated extremely heavy rainfall is likely to continue over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, but is expected to pass from August 15.