Himachal landslide: Search and rescue operation underway after massive slide hits Shimla's Summer Hill
Previously, the District Commissioner had mandated a two-day closure of institutes due to adverse weather conditions
Shimla, August 16: A substantial landslide struck Shimla's Summer Hill area on Wednesday, prompting an immediate response from officials. A search and rescue operation was swiftly initiated, with sniffer dogs and rescue teams present at the scene during this report's filing. No immediate casualties or injuries were reported.
Updates are pending as the situation unfolds. In a preceding incident on Tuesday, the Indian Air Force executed a single sortie airlift to aid a rescue operation following landslides in Shimla. The Western Air Command's Chinook helicopter carried 18 Indian Army personnel and a 3-Ton Mini Dozer for relief efforts.
Persistently heavy rainfall continues to cause havoc in parts of Himachal Pradesh, resulting in substantial damage to buildings and properties. The Krishna Nagar area of Shimla experienced the collapse of 5 to 7 houses due to a landslide on Tuesday. Officials indicated the possibility of trapped residents beneath the debris, prompting collaborative rescue efforts by NDRF, SDRF, and state police personnel.
Shimla SP Sanjeev Gandhi emphasized their priority, stating, "Our primary focus is to rescue more and more people. One casualty has been reported so far. All agencies are working to save lives. About 10-15 houses have been vacated and the occupants shifted to safe places. The loss of property is yet to be ascertained."
Amidst the ongoing rain-induced fury, Himachal Pradesh has witnessed the loss of at least 55 lives, triggered by landslides, cloudbursts, and road blockades. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu convened a high-powered committee meeting on Tuesday to further enhance disaster management efforts.
Sukhu cited a staggering 157-percent surge in rainfall over the past four days, causing extensive damage throughout the state. He asserted his government's full commitment to prioritize rapid restoration. Approximately 400 of the 1,220 blocked roads have already been cleared.
The CM issued directives to expedite the restoration of electricity and water schemes adversely affected by the weather. Addressing urban expansion challenges in Shimla, where torrential rains uprooted over 500 trees, Sukhu ordered the Forest Department to promptly and efficiently remove the fallen trees, ens
ring the allocation of sufficient manpower for the task.
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