Rain related death toll touches 80

Shimla, Sep 22 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today said that heavy rainfall has claimed 80 people till now and caused heavy losses to properties in the state.

In a letter to Union Communication and Information Technology Minister A Raja the Chief Minister urged the Centre to assist the state in restoring communication network damged due to heavy rains.

He informed the Minister that BSNL landlines as well as mobile sevices were badly affected and causing delay in relief and rescue operations.

He requested the Union Minister to provide required material to the BSNL offices besides giving instructions to the authorities to start restoration of communication network at war footing.

UNI XC PS BP2041