Huge Landslide Hits Shimla’s Summer Hill Zone, Rescue Operation in Progress

A significant landslide occurred in the Summer Hill vicinity of Shimla on Wednesday, as confirmed by an official statement. Subsequent to the incident becoming known, a search and rescue mission was initiated, with sniffer dogs and rescue personnel present at the scene during the compilation of this report. At present, there have been no immediate accounts of casualties or harm resulting from the event.

Additional information is anticipated. In a preceding development on Tuesday, the Indian Air Force efficiently transported 18 army soldiers in a sole operation to assist in the rescue efforts subsequent to landslides in Shimla.

“A Chinook helicopter of Western Air Command airlifted 18 Indian Army personnel and a 3-Ton Mini Dozer in a single sortie for rescue efforts in areas affected by landslides near Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla today,” the Indian Air Force informed through a statement on Tuesday.

Relentless rainfall persists in various regions of Himachal Pradesh, causing extensive destruction to structures and assets. On Tuesday, a landslide led to the collapse of 5 to 7 houses in Krishna Nagar area of Shimla.

Authorities have expressed concerns about potential residents being trapped beneath the rubble, prompting the involvement of NDRF, SDRF, and state police teams to spearhead the ongoing rescue efforts.

“Our primary focus is to rescue more and more people. One casualty has been reported so far. All agencies are working to save lives. About 10-15 houses have been vacated and the occupants shifted to safe places. The loss of property is yet to be ascertained,” Shimla SP Sanjeev Gandhi said earlier.

A minimum of 55 fatalities have been recorded throughout Himachal Pradesh as the continuous heavy rainfall continues to cause havoc, resulting in landslides, cloudbursts, and road closures. On Tuesday, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu convened a session with the high-level committee to discuss the enhancement of disaster management endeavors

He said a 157-per cent surge in rainfall over the past four days has resulted in extensive damage across the entire state.
He added that his government was fully committed to expediting restoration efforts on a priority basis. He said about 400 out of a total of 1,220 blocked roads have been restored to their normal state. 

The Chief Minister also provided instructions for the prompt restoration of disrupted electricity and water projects.

“Due to the urban expansion of Shimla, torrential rains have led to the uprooting of more than 500 trees, posing potential challenges for local residents. To alleviate these concerns, the Forest Department was directed to swiftly and properly dispose of the fallen trees. Adequate manpower should be deployed to ensure efficient execution of this task,” he said.