At least nine people were killed while several others were feared trapped in a landslide that buried a Shiv Temple in Summer Hill area of Shimla city. This has taken the total death toll in the state to 21 as heavy rains wreak havoc in the region.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said nine bodies were recovered from the debris of the temple that collapsed. The devotees had come to the temple to offer prayers on the sixth Monday of the Sawan month, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
"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," Sukhu posted on X platform. He added that the local administration is diligently working to clear the debris in order to rescue those who are still trapped.
In another tweet, the CM said, "Devastating rains led to a landslide near the Shiv Temple in Shimla's Summerhill area, burying many people. Some people have died. I am present at the spot and rescue work is underway on a war footing. All possible efforts are being made to rescue the people buried under the debris."
The government has declared holidays for all schools and colleges in the state on Monday. The state emergency operation centre said 752 roads were closed.
In Solan district, seven members of a family were killed in a cloudburst after two houses in Solan were washed away on Sunday night. Six people were rescued, a police official said.
Many people were feared buried in the two landslides and rescue operations are going on in full swing with the help of SDRF, NDRF and the Army
Several roads were blocked due to the landslide, including the busy Shimla-Chandigarh road.
-- with inputs from agencies
