Heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh, 33 killed

Shimla, Sept 20 : At least 33 people have been killed and many injured in heavy rains that continued for third consecutive day in Himachal Pradesh today.

Kulu and Manali Districts remained cut off from the rest of the State due to landslides at various places on the Chandigarh -Manali National Highway.

According to reports twenty-five shops and more than a dozen houses have been damaged in Shimla due to land slides. People are reeling under severe cold due to snow fall in the upper reaches.

Traffic is not plying on the Hindustan-Tibet road beyond Wangtoo in Kinnaur. More than 100 people are stranded at various places, including the Rohtang Pass due to unexpected snow.

Rescue teams of army and police have been sent to Rohtang to rescue the stranded people. Operation is on to remove debris and takes out the trapped people and dead bodies.

Water and telephone services have been disrupted at many places. An emergency meeting has been called by State Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal to review the situation.

ANI