Himachal Pradesh weather: At least 9 dead as landslides hit Shiv Temple in Shimla, many feared trapped

At least 9 people hav died while many others are feared burried after two landslides hit Shimla on Monday. Around 15-20 people were feared buried in the landslides that hit Shiv temple in the Summer Hill area and the Fagli area of Shimla city. Mud and slush brought down by the landslide in the Fagli area buried several houses.

Rescue operations are going on in full swing. Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said nine bodies had been retrieved from the debris. 

“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 in order to rescue individuals who may still be trapped,” the CM said in a tweet.

752 roads were closed in the state because of the calamity, according to the state emergency operation centre. The government has ordered all schools and colleges to be closed on Monday.

Catastrophe has hit Himachal Pradesh as rains wreak havoc in the state with cloudbursts and landslides. In another incident, seven people were killed in a cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh's Solan district. Six people were rescued but seven members of a family died after two houses were washed away following the cloudburst on Sunday night. 

(Inputs from PTI)