Himachal weather: 9 dead as temple collapses in rain-hit Shimla; Chief Minister to visit site

Digital Desk: According to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sikhu, nine persons died on Monday when a Shiv temple in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, collapsed due to heavy rain. Police officers and members of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are working to save those who may be trapped in a landslip at the temple in the Summer Hill neighbourhood.

On the occasion of Sawan, the followers gathered to pray. Nearly 50 people were there, according to a representative of the organisation.

The Chief Minister reported that the local government is making a concerted effort to remove the rubble to rescue any stranded people.

"Distressing news has emerged from Shimla, where the “Shiv Mandir” at Summer Hill collapsed as a result of the heavy rainfall. As of now, nine bodies have been retrieved. The local administration is diligently working to clear the debris to rescue individuals who may still be trapped," he wrote in a tweet.

It's anticipated that the Chief Minister will arrive at the site of the temple collapse.

"For the past 48 hours, Himachal Pradesh has experienced nonstop rain. Some fatal rain-related occurrences have occurred, and the Beas river's water level has increased. After the Shiv temple collapsed, as many as nine dead have been found. I will go to the site. Every authority is involved in the rescue efforts," he told India Today.

In the meantime, a cloudburst that struck a village in Himachal Pradesh's Solan region resulted in seven fatalities. Late on Sunday night, the event happened in Jadon Village. An official reported that six persons had been saved.

In the past 24 hours, heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh have caused landslides, closing several routes, including the crucial Shimla-Chandigarh road, which has been blocked to buses and trucks. All public schools and institutions in the state have been ordered to close until August 14, according to news source PTI.

Heavy vehicles became trapped on both sides of the road at Chakki Mor near Koti in Solan on Sunday as persistent sliding made travel on the route impossible throughout the day.

All around Hamirpur, crops, rich land, and public and private structures have suffered extensive damage as a result of the rains and landslides. People have been urged by the district government to stay indoors and stay away from the nullahs and bank of the Beas River.