HP rains: Toll 71; ‘mountainlike challenge, says CM Sukhu

Shimla: The death toll in rain-battered Himachal Pradesh rose to 71 on Wednesday with more bodies being recovered, as Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu ter med rebuilding the damaged infrastructure a “mountain-like challenge”.

“At least 71 people have died in the past three days and 13 are still missing. A total of 57 bodies have been recovered since Sunday night,” Principal Secretary (Revenue) Onkar Chand Sharma said.

Earlier, Chief Minister Sukhu said that about 60 people have died since Sunday night. Heavy rains have lashed the hill state since Sunday, triggering landslides in several districts including Shimla where three areas -- Summer Hill, Fagli and Krishna Nagar -- are badly hit by landslips.

In an interview with PTI, Sukhu said his state will take a year to rebuild the infrastructure wrecked by the heavy rains this monsoon and claimed that the estimated loss in the two devastating spells of heavy rains - this week and in July - is about Rs 10,000 crore.

The chief minister said it takes time to rebuild roads and water projects. But the government is speeding up the process.

“We have to get the infrastructure fully restored within a year. I am working with this in mind.”

“It’s a big challenge, a mountain-like challenge,” he said.

According to the state emergency operation centre, in total 214 people have died in the rain-related incidents in the state since the onset of monsoon on June 24 while 38 are still missing.

“Rescue operations are going on in Summer Hill and Krishna Nagar areas... one body was recovered from Summer Hill site,” Shimla Deputy Commissioner Aditya Negi told PTI.

He said so far 13 bodies have been recovered from Summer Hill, five from Fagli and two from Krishna Nagar. Some bodies are still feared buried in the debris of the Shiva temple at Summer Hill that collapsed on Monday.

About 15 houses in Krishna Nagar have been vacated and the families shifted to safer places. Several others have vacated their homes themselves fearing slides due to incessant rains.

The Education department had ordered closure of all schools and colleges in the state on Wednesday due to inclement weather and the Himachal Pradesh University has suspended teaching activities till August 19.

The officials said all educational institutions will remain closed in the Shimla Urban assembly segment on Thursday as several roads are blocked. (PTI)