New Delhi: The death count in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh over the past week rose to 78 on Sunday. Meanwhile, the local MeT sounded an orange alert for the next two days.
Rescue operations involving the Army, National and State Disaster Response Forces, Police, and Home Guards are ongoing to recover bodies from landslide debris.
#Watch | #HimachalPradesh: Search & rescue operation underway in Shimla after heavy rains battered several areas. pic.twitter.com/K9Vfp1JmSl
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) August 20, 2023
The local Meteorological (MeT) office has issued an orange warning for heavy to very heavy rains on August 20 and 21, and a yellow alert for heavy rains on August 22 and 23. The MeT has also cautioned of a moderate to high risk of flash floods in Shimla, Sirmaur, and Chamba districts.
To address the crisis, the Himachal Pradesh government has declared the state a “Natural Calamity Affected Area” due to the extensive damage caused by heavy rains, urging the central government to declare it a national disaster.