Eleven killed in HP following heavy rains

Chandigarh, Aug 13 (UNI) As many as eleven people were killed and about 150 jhuggies washed away following incessant rain in Himachal Pardesh for the third day today, causing houses to collapse and landslides, affecting road and rail traffic in the hilly state.

Moderate rain also lashed Punjab and Haryana overnight, providing respite from scorching heat in the region.

The rains affected normal life in Himachal Pradesh where the monsoon remained vigorous. Water, power and telecommunication services in many parts of the mountainous state remained disrupted.

Four people were killed in Shimla district, three in Hamirpur district and two each in Solan and Kangra districts, taking the toll in rain-related incidents in the state to 23 during the past three days.

Bodies of two people were recovered today from the debries of landslide yesterday near Jawalamukhi temple in Kangra district.

About 40 people were rescued yesterday. The rescue operation was still continuing as more people, including some shopkeepers and pilgrims, were believed to have been buried in the landslide.

Four labourers, including a 10-year old boy, were killed and equal number injured following a landslide at Nag village near Matiana in Shimla district today. Three of the deceased were identified as Prem Kumari, a woman, Man Bahadur and Deen Bahadur. The injured were discharged after first aid.

A couple, identified as Mansa Ram and his wife Kashmeero Devi, were killed and three other members of the family were injured when a huge bundle of bamboos fell on their house at Lanjyani village in Hamirpur district. The injured, including a child, were rescued from under the debris by the local people.

In another incident in the district, one Bidhi Chand was washed away in a flash flood at Dughli village.

Two people were buried alive early this morning when a house collapsed following heavy rains at Nagaly village in Solan district.

The deceased were identified as Jaspal Singh (24) and Naresh Kumar (23).

About 150 jhuggies of migrants residing along Suketi Khud were washed away at Sundernagar following heavy rains in Mandi district last evening.

The 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri and the 300 MW Baspa hydroelectric projects remained shut down for the second day today due to high level of silt in Sutlej river. The Dehar power Project in Mandi has opened its floodgates to prevent the deluge.

Railway traffic on the Shimla-Kalka section x x x picking up para one of CH 14, Weather-northwest two last Chandigarh UNI