9 killed after temple collapsed in torrential downpour in Shimla, 20 feared trapped

Monsoons have claimed the lives of at least 29 people in Himachal Pradesh in two days, with nine buried under the ruins of a temple in Shimla. The weather bureau predicts heavy rain for the state over the next two days. Nine people were killed in a landslide at a Shiv temple in Shimla city today, while seven members of a family were killed after heavy rain in Solan last night.
Deputy Commissioner Shimla Aditya Negi told PTI news agency that 15 to 20 people were trapped in two landslides in the town of Shimla. He said efforts were underway to rescue those trapped.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has ordered the authorities to provide all possible assistance and assistance to the affected families. The minister urged people to ‘stay indoors’ and avoid accessing areas ‘prone to landslides’. He also asked tourists not to visit the state during this crisis.
Officials said more than 700 roads had been closed in the state due to landslides caused by incessant rain, adding that a key section of the national highway connecting Shimla and Chandigarh had been affected by landslides again. performance, causing a number of vehicles to be stuck along the road.
Himachal Pradesh has continued to see severe monsoon winds since the monsoon began on June 24, killing more than 260 people.