Rain claims nine more lives in HP
From Tribune Reporters

SHIMLA, Sept 24 — At least nine persons were killed in Himachal Pradesh today due to landslides and incidents of house collapse caused by heavy rain.

Many roads have also been blocked due to landslides.

The toll due to the rain in the state has risen to 11. Two persons had died yesterday.

Reports said a couple, Ishwar Dass, and his wife, Lachhi Devi, were buried in a house collapse in Karot village of Chamba district.

Three members of a family were buried when a house collapsed at Jeori in Shimla district.

One Ram Lal died when he was hit by a shooting stone in Badsar while cutting grass.

Reports said that Hardip Singh, a resident of Kathua district in Jammu, was washed away in the Nathpa dam.

The body of Dhani Singh was reportedly found in a nullah at Barera in Amb block of Una district. One Savitri Devi also lost her life in Una district.

Reports said the highway between Bilaspur and Manali was blocked at many places. The Pathankot-Chamba road was also blocked.

The Shimla-Kinnaur highway was also blocked at many places, but was reopened last afternoon.

Many roads in Shimla town were also damaged due to landslides and uprooting of trees.

ROHTAK: As many as 400 families in Balambha village had to vacate their houses and take shelter in a school building after rainwater entered the village.

Mr Ram Nath, another villager, alleged that the administration had failed to provide relief to the affected families.

The incessant rain has created a flood-like situation in many villages of Meham subdivision. Rohtak has recorded 166 mm rain fall so far.

Several families of ‘pana-roj’ in Mokhra village also had to vacate their houses after rainwater flooded the area.

The situation in Nindana village was similar, with water entering the houses constructed in the village periphery. Fields in the village were under 2ft to 3ft water.

The area between Bahu-Akabarpur and Madina village was also inundated. The standing crops in the area have been damaged and villagers fear scarcity of green fodder for their cattle.

The situation in the adjoining Jhajjar district was also alarming. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Kumar, on Thursday toured the flood-affected villages and ordered the Health Department to launch a malaria eradication campaign immediately.

The worst affected villages in Jhajjar district are Zehajgarh, Chhuchhakwas, Dubaldhan, Ujana, Dhaur, Malikpur and Paharipur.

Dujana and Dhaur villages are surrounded by 3ft to 4ft water.

Mr Arun Kumar, however, claimed that rainwater had not entered any village and there was no loss of life. The pumping sets installed along the JLN canal were in operation and draining away the rainwater, he said.

The Deputy Commissioner said veterinary doctors had also been asked to visit the affected villages to prevent the spread of cattle disease. The inhabitants of the affected villages had demanded supplies of kerosene oil, which were being rushed to them, he added.

KARNAL: An 11-year-old child, Chirag, died here on Thursday morning when a two-storeyed house in Gosain mohalla collapsed due to incessant rain. Four other members of the family, including Mr Suraj Parkash, were also buried under the debris, but were rescued by the neighbours.

The wife of Mr Parkash is in a serious condition and has been admitted to the local Civil Hospital.

CHAMBA: Heavy rain claimed the lives of two persons when they were buried alive in a house collapse at Karot village in this district on Wednesday night.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Tarun Kapoor, said here on Thursday that Ishwar Dass, and his wife, died in house collapse.

He announced a total grant of Rs 55,000 for their next of kin.

SANGRUR: As many as five villages in Moonak subdivision of this district have been submerged in 1ft to 2ft of water following flooding of the Ghaggar river, official sources said. The affected villages are Chandu, Bushera, Banga, Hottipur and Nawan Gaon.

Mr Anirudh Tewari, Deputy Commissioner, who visited the affected villages, claimed that so far there was no damage to crop or property in these villages and also no loss of life.

HOSHIARPUR: Bissochak village in Dasuya subdivision was inundated following two breaches in Kandi canal between Chak Dhala and Bissochak late on Wednesday.

While a 70-foot-wide breach occurred near canal RD-20335, a 30-foot-wide breach took place about half a km away, sources said. The village is at present submerged in 5-foot-deep water.

Dasuya SDM Kulbir Singh said he has asked the canal authorities to plug the breaches to prevent further damage to property of the villagers. There was no loss of life.

Two pucca houses were damaged by flood waters. The villages have vacated their houses and were camping on the village link road which itself is inundated.