Rescue workers look for survivors of cloudburst fury in HP

Chandigarh, Aug 15 (UNI) Life gradually limped back to normalcy in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh where monsoons and cloudburts had brought untold fury washing away houses, roads and bridges, thereby leaving a trail of destruction.

Rescue workers continued to look for survivors in of Ghanvi in Rampur sub-division of Shimla district where a cloudburst had washed away houses and roads. So far, six bodies had been recovered in the effected area by rescue teams.

According to the official sources, out of the missing 52 people only 28 had been identified. Shimla DC and SP, SDM Rampur, CRPF, ITBP and CISF were all engaged in the rescue operations and evacuating survivors to safer areas and make shift relief camps.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh carried out an ariel survey of the affected areas and promised to provide all possible help to the affected people.

Meanwhile, sunshine provided some respite to the residents of the capital hill resort of Shimla today. The town recorded 4.3 mm rain in the last 24 hours, while Sundernagar in Mandi district had 11.6 mm rain, Una had 6.2 mm and Kalpa had 0.4 mm rain since last night.

Punjab and Haryana had traces of rain, while moderate showers lashed the Union Territory of Chandigarh last night. The city recorded 51.0 mm of rain.

In Punjab, Nangal had 17.4 mm rain, Madhopur 4.0 mm with traces of rain in the remaining parts of the border state. Haryana too reported traces of rain with Ambala recording 0.5 mm.

According to the met office here, moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in Himachal Pradesh in the next 24 hours, while Punjab and Haryana would receive light to moderate showers.

UNI