News Analysis India

Tag: Himachal floods

  • Himachal floods: 11 passengers of Punjab Roadways bus still missing; 3 bodies recovered in Shimla

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: Eleven passengers of a Punjab state transport corporation bus, which was swept away by the swelling Beas river in Manali on July 10, were yet to be traced, police said on Sunday.

    The passengers, all from Uttar Pradesh, took the Pepsu Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) bus from Chandigarh on July 9. The wreckage of the bus was found in the middle of the Beas river in Manali on Saturday.

    Meanwhile, the bodies of three people — an elderly couple and their grandson — who were swept away along with their roadside eatery in a flash flood in Laila rivulet at a village in Rohru were recovered from the Pabbar river in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday.

    READ HERE | Himachal Pradesh: Three feared dead as dhaba swept away in flash flood

    The bodies swept away on Saturday have been recovered by the police, Shimla Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi told PTI.

    Roshan Lal and his wife Bhaga Devi used to run the dhaba in the village and their grandson Kartik had paid them a visit when the tragedy struck, the officials said.

    According to the police, the wreckage of the Punjab road transport corporation bus was found 300 metres down from the green tax barrier of the Allo (potato) ground in the middle of the Beas river in Manali on Saturday and a search is on for the 11 passengers.

    “We have got a list of 11 missing persons, all hailing from Uttar Pradesh, who were suspected to be in the bus when it was swept away and a search is on to find the missing persons,” Kullu Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma told PTI.

    The bus could not be taken out due to heavy current in the river. The officers of PRTC had identified the bus which started its journey from Sector 34 in Chandigarh to Manali on July 9 and was swept away in floods on July 10 near Manali.

    Several videos of the bus, trucks and light vehicles inundated in Beas river, floods washing away houses, business establishments and parking lots on the banks went viral following floods in Kullu and Mandi districts.

    So far, 25 persons have died, 26 sustained injuries and four are still missing in Shimla district and about 88 houses, 47 vehicles and eight animal sheds have been damaged in the current monsoon season, Gandhi said.

    More than 150 people have been rescued by various teams of police, administration and others in 44 rescue operations, he said.

    The local Met office on Sunday issued orange warning of heavy to very heavy rains at isolated places on July 25 and 26 and yellow warning of heavy rains on July 24 and 27.

    Light to moderate rain lashed parts of Himachal Pradesh. Nahan received 46 mm of rain, followed by Jatton Barrage (Sirmaur) 45 mm, Bharmour 35 mm, Solan 34 mm and Guler 32 mm.

    As many as 158 people have died in rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods and cloud burst besides road accidents during the ongoing monsoon season since June 24 till date, according to the state emergency response system.

    The state has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 5,115 crore.

    Nearly 700 roads are closed for vehicular traffic in the state.

    An excess of 426 per cent rainfall has been recorded in the state from July 7 to 14 and 5,480 incidents of landslides, 14 cloudbursts and 83 flash floods have been reported since June 24, according to a statement issued here on Saturday. 

    SHIMLA: Eleven passengers of a Punjab state transport corporation bus, which was swept away by the swelling Beas river in Manali on July 10, were yet to be traced, police said on Sunday.

    The passengers, all from Uttar Pradesh, took the Pepsu Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) bus from Chandigarh on July 9. The wreckage of the bus was found in the middle of the Beas river in Manali on Saturday.

    Meanwhile, the bodies of three people — an elderly couple and their grandson — who were swept away along with their roadside eatery in a flash flood in Laila rivulet at a village in Rohru were recovered from the Pabbar river in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    READ HERE | Himachal Pradesh: Three feared dead as dhaba swept away in flash flood

    The bodies swept away on Saturday have been recovered by the police, Shimla Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi told PTI.

    Roshan Lal and his wife Bhaga Devi used to run the dhaba in the village and their grandson Kartik had paid them a visit when the tragedy struck, the officials said.

    According to the police, the wreckage of the Punjab road transport corporation bus was found 300 metres down from the green tax barrier of the Allo (potato) ground in the middle of the Beas river in Manali on Saturday and a search is on for the 11 passengers.

    “We have got a list of 11 missing persons, all hailing from Uttar Pradesh, who were suspected to be in the bus when it was swept away and a search is on to find the missing persons,” Kullu Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma told PTI.

    The bus could not be taken out due to heavy current in the river. The officers of PRTC had identified the bus which started its journey from Sector 34 in Chandigarh to Manali on July 9 and was swept away in floods on July 10 near Manali.

    Several videos of the bus, trucks and light vehicles inundated in Beas river, floods washing away houses, business establishments and parking lots on the banks went viral following floods in Kullu and Mandi districts.

    So far, 25 persons have died, 26 sustained injuries and four are still missing in Shimla district and about 88 houses, 47 vehicles and eight animal sheds have been damaged in the current monsoon season, Gandhi said.

    More than 150 people have been rescued by various teams of police, administration and others in 44 rescue operations, he said.

    The local Met office on Sunday issued orange warning of heavy to very heavy rains at isolated places on July 25 and 26 and yellow warning of heavy rains on July 24 and 27.

    Light to moderate rain lashed parts of Himachal Pradesh. Nahan received 46 mm of rain, followed by Jatton Barrage (Sirmaur) 45 mm, Bharmour 35 mm, Solan 34 mm and Guler 32 mm.

    As many as 158 people have died in rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods and cloud burst besides road accidents during the ongoing monsoon season since June 24 till date, according to the state emergency response system.

    The state has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 5,115 crore.

    Nearly 700 roads are closed for vehicular traffic in the state.

    An excess of 426 per cent rainfall has been recorded in the state from July 7 to 14 and 5,480 incidents of landslides, 14 cloudbursts and 83 flash floods have been reported since June 24, according to a statement issued here on Saturday. 

  • Village chief who alerted others falls victim to Himachal landslide along with kin

    By PTI

    SHIMLA: When extremely heavy rains lashed Kashan in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, village chief Khem Singh sent a message on a WhatsApp group asking people to remain alert.

    But the ‘pradhan’ himself and seven other family members were killed in a landslide.

    Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said this on Monday after visiting flash flood and landslide-hit areas in Mandi district and announced that Singh’s house would be reconstructed by the administration.

    Twenty-two people were killed, twelve injured and five feared dead as they went missing in 36 incidents of landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall across Himachal Pradesh on Saturday.

    Thakur also announced that the state government will provide Rs 4 lakh to next of kin of the deceased who lost their lives in the landslides and flash floods.

    The chief minister said their lives could not be saved although rescue teams had left for the village without wasting any time after getting information about the landslide.

    However, it took several hours to reach there as all the roads leading to the village were badly damaged, he said.

    Thakur met Singh’s relatives during his visit to Kashan village in and expressed his condolences.

    ALSO READ | Monsoon fury: At least 50 dead in rain-related incidents in Himachal, other states in three days

    The CM said he has directed the deputy commissioners of the districts affected by rains to swiftly act to restore damaged roads, power and water supply.

    Thakur said the Centre had already been apprised about the situation created by rains and a central team would visit the state to assess the loss as per norms.

    Meanwhile Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has written a letter to Thakur, expressing his sadness over the loss of lives and damage to property owing to heavy rains in the state, his office said.

    “I offer my condolences to you, to the families who have lost loved ones, and to all those affected by this devastation,” he wrote.

    “I pray for them. I appreciate that the state government and other agencies are doing their utmost to provide relief to people affected by these calamitous conditions. As a token of our solidarity with the people of Himachal Pradesh, our friends and neighbours, the Dalai Lama Trust is making a donation to relief and rescue efforts,” the letter said.

    The CM’s home district Mandi was the worst hit where 13 people died and five were feared dead in flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall.

    In Mandi, six members of a family went missing after a flash flood in Baghi nullah on the Mandi-Katola-Prashar road on Saturday.

    While the body of a girl was recovered at some distance away from her house, five members of her family are feared dead as they were washed away after flash flood.

    Besides several roads, power transformers and water supply pipes were also damaged.

    SHIMLA: When extremely heavy rains lashed Kashan in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, village chief Khem Singh sent a message on a WhatsApp group asking people to remain alert.

    But the ‘pradhan’ himself and seven other family members were killed in a landslide.

    Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said this on Monday after visiting flash flood and landslide-hit areas in Mandi district and announced that Singh’s house would be reconstructed by the administration.

    Twenty-two people were killed, twelve injured and five feared dead as they went missing in 36 incidents of landslides and flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall across Himachal Pradesh on Saturday.

    Thakur also announced that the state government will provide Rs 4 lakh to next of kin of the deceased who lost their lives in the landslides and flash floods.

    The chief minister said their lives could not be saved although rescue teams had left for the village without wasting any time after getting information about the landslide.

    However, it took several hours to reach there as all the roads leading to the village were badly damaged, he said.

    Thakur met Singh’s relatives during his visit to Kashan village in and expressed his condolences.

    ALSO READ | Monsoon fury: At least 50 dead in rain-related incidents in Himachal, other states in three days

    The CM said he has directed the deputy commissioners of the districts affected by rains to swiftly act to restore damaged roads, power and water supply.

    Thakur said the Centre had already been apprised about the situation created by rains and a central team would visit the state to assess the loss as per norms.

    Meanwhile Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has written a letter to Thakur, expressing his sadness over the loss of lives and damage to property owing to heavy rains in the state, his office said.

    “I offer my condolences to you, to the families who have lost loved ones, and to all those affected by this devastation,” he wrote.

    “I pray for them. I appreciate that the state government and other agencies are doing their utmost to provide relief to people affected by these calamitous conditions. As a token of our solidarity with the people of Himachal Pradesh, our friends and neighbours, the Dalai Lama Trust is making a donation to relief and rescue efforts,” the letter said.

    The CM’s home district Mandi was the worst hit where 13 people died and five were feared dead in flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall.

    In Mandi, six members of a family went missing after a flash flood in Baghi nullah on the Mandi-Katola-Prashar road on Saturday.

    While the body of a girl was recovered at some distance away from her house, five members of her family are feared dead as they were washed away after flash flood.

    Besides several roads, power transformers and water supply pipes were also damaged.

  • Monsoon fury: At least 50 dead in rain-related incidents in Himachal, other states in three days

    By Online Desk

    At least 50 people have died in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Odisha over the last three days in flash floods and landslides triggered by intense monsoon rains, according to news agency Reuters.

    22 people were killed and 12 injured in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday.

    The maximum damage was reported from Mandi, Kangra, and Chamba districts.

    Five people who went missing after heavy rains triggered flash floods and landslides in Himachal Pradesh remained untraceable on Sunday, State Disaster Management Department director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta told PTI.

    The five who went missing after a flash flood in Baghi nullah on the Mandi-Katola-Prashar road in Mandi are still untraceable, he added.

    Several families fled their homes located between Baghi and Old Katola after a cloudburst in the area on Saturday and took shelter at safer places.

    Mokhta said the Shimla-Chandigarh highway, which was blocked on Saturday evening following a landslide at Sonu Bangla between Shoghi and Tara Devi, has been cleared for vehicular movement.

    However, several roads, especially in Mandi, are still closed for traffic and work is on clear them, he added.

    Principal secretary, Revenue, Onkar Sharma said Rs 232.31 crore has been released from the State Disaster Response Fund to the affected districts.

    Two major rivers in Odisha breach danger mark

    In the state of Odisha, authorities in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts have launched a massive evacuation drive in low-lying areas, officials said Sunday, as water in Subarnarekha and Baitarani – the two major rivers flowing through the region  breached the danger mark at many places.

    As many as 58 rescue teams comprising personnel of the NDRF, ODRAF and Fire Service were deployed in Balasore and Mayurbahnj districts, Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep K Jena said, adding similar arrangements were also being made in adjoining districts of Bhadrak and Jajpur.

    The water level in all the rivers located in north Odisha are in spate due to heavy rains caused by a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, and subsequent flood water release from Jharkhand.

    According to Jena, nearly 6 lakh cusecs of water were discharged by Jharkhand from Galudih barrage on the Subarnarekha river system, following a heavy downpour.

    Most rivers flowing through the northern region of Odisha into the Bay of Bengal originate in neighbouring Jharkhand.

    Four blocks in coastal Balasore district –Baliapal, Bhograi, Basta and Jaleswar –were identified as most vulnerable to the latest flooding.

    On Sunday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik delegated powers of a special relief commissioner to the collector of Balasore district so that the local administration could be more effective.

    A helicopter was also placed at his disposal to deal with any emergency.

    Odisha is already reeling under the impact of moderate floods in the Mahanadi river system following incessant rainfall, which has affected above 7 lakh people.

    Nearly 5 lakh are still marooned in 763 villages, according to government estimates.

    Rains and flood-related incidents have so far claimed six lives.

    Two bodies were recovered in Kuchinda area of Sambalpur district on Saturday, while four people, including two minor girls, were killed in a wall collapse on Friday night.

    ALSO READ | Odisha floods: It has been raining misery for Kandhamal, Kalahandi

    Jharkhand hit by torrential rains

     
    Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, three persons lost their lives amid heavy rain and strong winds that lashed several districts of the state, inundating low-lying areas and uprooting trees and electricity poles, officials said.

    A woman died when a mud wall of her house collapsed in West Singhbhum district, as a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal brought torrential rainfall in various parts of the state on Saturday, they said.

    Two persons drowned in Ramgarh district and two more went missing when their vehicles fell into the swollen Nalkari river, and were swept away by the strong current, the officials said.

    Flood-like situation on Vaishno Devi yatra track

    In Jammu, the yatra to the Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir was temporarily suspended on Friday evening following heavy rain, officials said.

    Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Anshul Garg said the situation was under control and there was no report of any casualty or damage.

    Several videos shared on social media show flood-like situation on the Vaishno Devi track.

    An official said heavy rains lashed Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the revered shrine, for several hours in the evening, prompting the authorities to suspend the yatra as a precautionary measure till 5 am on Saturday.

    (With inputs from PTI)

    At least 50 people have died in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Odisha over the last three days in flash floods and landslides triggered by intense monsoon rains, according to news agency Reuters.

    22 people were killed and 12 injured in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday.

    The maximum damage was reported from Mandi, Kangra, and Chamba districts.

    Five people who went missing after heavy rains triggered flash floods and landslides in Himachal Pradesh remained untraceable on Sunday, State Disaster Management Department director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta told PTI.

    The five who went missing after a flash flood in Baghi nullah on the Mandi-Katola-Prashar road in Mandi are still untraceable, he added.

    Several families fled their homes located between Baghi and Old Katola after a cloudburst in the area on Saturday and took shelter at safer places.

    Mokhta said the Shimla-Chandigarh highway, which was blocked on Saturday evening following a landslide at Sonu Bangla between Shoghi and Tara Devi, has been cleared for vehicular movement.

    However, several roads, especially in Mandi, are still closed for traffic and work is on clear them, he added.

    Principal secretary, Revenue, Onkar Sharma said Rs 232.31 crore has been released from the State Disaster Response Fund to the affected districts.

    Two major rivers in Odisha breach danger mark

    In the state of Odisha, authorities in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts have launched a massive evacuation drive in low-lying areas, officials said Sunday, as water in Subarnarekha and Baitarani – the two major rivers flowing through the region  breached the danger mark at many places.

    As many as 58 rescue teams comprising personnel of the NDRF, ODRAF and Fire Service were deployed in Balasore and Mayurbahnj districts, Special Relief Commissioner Pradeep K Jena said, adding similar arrangements were also being made in adjoining districts of Bhadrak and Jajpur.

    The water level in all the rivers located in north Odisha are in spate due to heavy rains caused by a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal, and subsequent flood water release from Jharkhand.

    According to Jena, nearly 6 lakh cusecs of water were discharged by Jharkhand from Galudih barrage on the Subarnarekha river system, following a heavy downpour.

    Most rivers flowing through the northern region of Odisha into the Bay of Bengal originate in neighbouring Jharkhand.

    Four blocks in coastal Balasore district –Baliapal, Bhograi, Basta and Jaleswar –were identified as most vulnerable to the latest flooding.

    On Sunday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik delegated powers of a special relief commissioner to the collector of Balasore district so that the local administration could be more effective.

    A helicopter was also placed at his disposal to deal with any emergency.

    Odisha is already reeling under the impact of moderate floods in the Mahanadi river system following incessant rainfall, which has affected above 7 lakh people.

    Nearly 5 lakh are still marooned in 763 villages, according to government estimates.

    Rains and flood-related incidents have so far claimed six lives.

    Two bodies were recovered in Kuchinda area of Sambalpur district on Saturday, while four people, including two minor girls, were killed in a wall collapse on Friday night.

    ALSO READ | Odisha floods: It has been raining misery for Kandhamal, Kalahandi

    Jharkhand hit by torrential rains

     
    Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, three persons lost their lives amid heavy rain and strong winds that lashed several districts of the state, inundating low-lying areas and uprooting trees and electricity poles, officials said.

    A woman died when a mud wall of her house collapsed in West Singhbhum district, as a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal brought torrential rainfall in various parts of the state on Saturday, they said.

    Two persons drowned in Ramgarh district and two more went missing when their vehicles fell into the swollen Nalkari river, and were swept away by the strong current, the officials said.

    Flood-like situation on Vaishno Devi yatra track

    In Jammu, the yatra to the Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir was temporarily suspended on Friday evening following heavy rain, officials said.

    Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Anshul Garg said the situation was under control and there was no report of any casualty or damage.

    Several videos shared on social media show flood-like situation on the Vaishno Devi track.

    An official said heavy rains lashed Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the revered shrine, for several hours in the evening, prompting the authorities to suspend the yatra as a precautionary measure till 5 am on Saturday.

    (With inputs from PTI)