Himachal Rain Tragedy: 71 Dead, Shimla Schools Shut

Today, all schools in Shimla remain closed. Meanwhile, heavy rains have claimed 10 lives in nearby Uttarakhand.

In Himachal, relentless rain caused landslides killing 71. The state faces ₹75,000 crore losses this monsoon. Rebuilding washed-out infrastructure will take a year, according to CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. He likened the challenge to a mountain. A recent Shimla landslide claimed 2 lives in Krishna Nagar, collapsing several homes.

Due to frequent landslides blocking roads, all Shimla schools and educational institutes are closed today. The state government seeks a national calamity declaration.

Himachal’s rainfall surpasses the seasonal average by August. Over 54 monsoon days, 742mm rainfall was recorded, breaking a 50-year July record and causing unprecedented devastation.

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CM Sukhu attributes landslides to improper construction by unacquainted architects and poor structural design, particularly in hilly regions. Old government buildings remain unscathed while newer constructions suffer.

In Uttarakhand, 10 died in rain-triggered landslides, and 293 stranded pilgrims were rescued from Madmaheshwar temple’s trek route. Lakshman Jhula also experienced a deadly landslide, burying six at Night Paradise Camp resort.

Punjab’s Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Rupnagar were severely flooded due to dam water release. Gurdaspur’s district administration declared school holidays in flood-hit areas. Rupnagar authorities announced closures of schools and Anganwadi centers from August 17-18 in affected zones.

In summary, incessant rains led to 71 deaths and ₹75,000 crore losses in Himachal. Reconstructing destroyed infrastructure will take about a year, posing a monumental challenge. Shimla’s schools are shut due to landslides. Himachal seeks national calamity status. Rainfall exceeded averages, causing unprecedented destruction. Poor construction practices blamed for landslides. Uttarakhand faced 10 casualties. Punjab’s flooding triggered school closures.

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