Rain leaves a trail of destruction in Shimla

SHIMLA: As many as 66 families have been asked to vacate their houses in New Shimla, Vikasnagar, Dhalli, Indernagar and Gorkhu Lodge following landslides triggered by heavy rain in the capital city which has damaged houses, roads, paths, walls and pipelines worth Rs 4 crore since last night.

Krishna Nagar: Houses damaged due to a landslide. Photos: Amit Kanwar

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 13

As many as 66 families have been asked to vacate their houses in New Shimla, Vikasnagar, Dhalli, Indernagar and Gorkhu Lodge following landslides triggered by heavy rain in the capital city which has damaged houses, roads, paths, walls and pipelines worth Rs 4 crore since last night.

Besides this, 150 pine trees were uprooted that damaged 20 houses and a police building in Bharari.

About 25 families living in five houses in upper Dhalli faced threat as a landslide rendered the houses unsafe and occupants had been cautioned about the danger, said Shimla Mayor Kusum Sadret.

Another 25 families living in Indernagar and Gorkhu Lodge also shifted. “Many residents in New Shimla, Vikasnagar have been asked to vacate their houses as these are rendered unsafe,” said tehsildar, who inspected these houses in the morning.

The landsides damaged over 20 cars and other vehicles parked near in Benmore, Panthaghati, Totu, Beolia, lower Cemetery, Chhakkar and Maliana, said sources. Four houses in lower Cemetery and four in Panthaghati faced threat as the surging nullas washed away pipelines and brought debris around the houses.

Besides this, the landslides damaged 114 transmission lines in the district, including supply lines in New Shimla and Vikasnagar, Summer Hill and Annadale, disrupting power supply. The landslides blocked roads leading to Anji, Maliana and Gawahi areas of Annadale where more than 40 trees were uprooted. The Mehli-Beolia- Shoghi road remained blocked due to a landslide that damaged four vehicles, said Sanjay Chauhan, former Shimla Mayor. There was no rescue efforts, he added. The Ramchander Chowk-Richmount road had remained blocked near Hanault Public School since morning as three deodar trees fell on the road, damaging two vehicles. The Shimla bypass has been blocked since morning. The total loss in the district is estimated between Rs 35 crore and Rs 40 crore.

Water shortage

Landslides and flash floods have damaged pipelines in New Shimla, Vikasnagar, Panthaghati, Annadale, Maliana, lower Cemetery, Kaithu, Fagli and Dhalli wards, causing water shortage.
The landslide near the Vidhan Sabha breached the main pipeline from The Ridge to Chaura Maidan and Summer Hill. The landslide also breached the Koti-Barandi-Ashwani khad-Kusumpati pipeline near Pujarli.
Municipal Commissioner Pankaj Rai said the repair work on paths, water pipelines and two sewerage lines had been started on a war footing.

Shah’s visit put off

Due to inclement weather, the proposed visit of BJP national president Amit Shah to Shimla on August 16 has been postponed, stated a press release.

Repair roads at earliest: Thakur to officials

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has directed officials of the PWD, IPH Department and HP State Electricity Board to get national and state highways repaired.