NEW DELHI, Aug 15 – On Tuesday, more victims were recovered from the landslides that occurred over the weekend in the Indian Himalayas region. The disaster, which led to the burial and destruction of homes and buildings, resulted in at least 57 casualties, with an additional 10 people still trapped or unaccounted for, as per official reports.
These landslides were largely caused by torrential rains, which along with continuous construction activities have, in past years, repeatedly caused fatal flash floods and landslides in India’s mountain regions. Similar incidents have also been reported in neighboring countries, Pakistan and Nepal. Climate change has been identified as the primary contributor to these extreme weather conditions.
The Indian state of Himachal Pradesh witnessed serious damage caused by the landslides. Numerous structures were obliterated by falling rocks and trees, roads were left in a state of catastrophe and the power and railway networks were severely disrupted.
Given the scale of destruction, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Chief Minister of the northern state, warned that the death toll could inevitably increase. He made this statement as he oversaw a subdued ceremony marking India’s Independence Day, as reported by the news agency ANI on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, three more bodies were recovered from the wrecked site of a temple in Shimla, the state capital, after disastrous landslides, according to Praveen Bhardwaj, an official from the disaster management authority. The landslide and rain-related incidents led to the deaths of 14 people in Shimla.
Bhardwaj further revealed that the total number of fatalities throughout the state due to this catastrophe has reached 55. Two additional casualties were reported in Uttarakhand, a neighboring state, due to similar rain-induced incidents.
The television coverage displayed a large crowd of hundreds congregating at the rescue locations as emergency response teams along with excavation equipment were seen removing tree trunks and mud from the affected areas.
One resident of Shimla, Pusphpa Lata, informed ANI news agency that her two colleagues and their families were still missing. She expressed hope that these individuals, particularly her colleague Professor P.L. Sharma, his wife, and son, would still be found safe and sound. Pusphpa’s heartfelt message was captured by the news agency ANI, where Reuters owns a minority stake.
The forecast predicts ongoing heavy rainfall in certain regions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand till Wednesday. Last month, these states experienced significant destruction due to continuous rainfall. The monsoon season, which commenced on June 1st, has seen an above-average rainfall in these states: Himachal Pradesh recorded a 45% increase while Uttarakhand recorded an 18% increase.
