On Monday, flooding forced a temple in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh to collapse, killing nine people and trapping up to 25 more. Seven more persons have died as a result of heavy rains elsewhere in the state.
During a visit to the temple site on Monday, the state’s chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu informed Indian news agency ANI that the famed tourist destination’s temple had collapsed at 8 a.m. local time.
The deceased’s remains have been found, and the “local administration is diligently working to clear the debris,” Sukhu wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Monday.
He noted that while rescue efforts are ongoing, between 20 to 25 individuals are still trapped. Five people have so far been saved.
Sukhu wrote on X on Monday that he was “devastated to hear about the loss” after learning that seven more persons had perished in the Solan district on Monday due to a cloudburst.
Sukhu continued, “We have instructed the authorities to guarantee that the afflicted families receive the appropriate assistance and support at this tough time.
Sukhu urged residents to stay inside and avoid going near rivers and other landslide-prone locations.
Due to the continued heavy rain and the Indian Meteorological Department issuing a red advisory for the state, traffic police authorities have also advised the general population to stay home.
Social media posts and videos show demolished highways and downed trees, while water flowing down hillsides sends enormous rocks flying.
One of the states most severely impacted by the current monsoon season is Himachal Pradesh. across the month of July, landslides and flash floods across the state claimed the lives of over 30 people.
According to some scientists, the chaotic and unpredictable monsoon season in India is being caused by the human-induced climate disaster.