Five of family killed in cloudburst near Shimla
12-year-old differently abled boy lone survivor
SHIMLA: Five members of a family were killed and a 12-year old boy was injured as a cloudburst hit Rampur area early Friday morning even as moderate rains occurred at some places in Himachal Pradesh.
The cloudburst washed away apple orchards, an old house where the family was staying.
The deceased belonged to a Nepali family living at Brandali village and have been identified as Lachhman Dass, his wife Devi Kumari, daughters Sunita, 7, Purshottama, 11, and son Suraj, 6. One son, Karan Bahadur, who is specially-abled, is safe and admitted to a hospital in Rampur.
“Bodies of all the victims have been recovered,” said Rohan Chand Thakur, Shimla deputy commissioner.
“Rescue teams led by SDM Nishant Thakur and DSP Som Dutt reached the spot. The area had become inaccessible due to landslides,” he added.
“A team of civil administration will prepare a report and access the actual damage,” Chand said.
Meanwhile, moderate rains occurred at some places in the state. Una was wettest with 27.2 mm rain while Shimla and Jubbal received 19 mm and 17 mm rain respectively, followed by Banjar 12 mm, Kumarsein and Sarahan 8 mm, and Mashobra and Manali 5 mm.
The maximum temperatures rose marginally. Una was hottest with high of 36.2 degree Celsius, while Bhuntar and Sundernagar recorded maximum temperatures at 33.5 degree and 33.2 degree, followed by Nahan 31.8 degree, Solan 29.2 degree, Dharamsala 29.8 degree, Kalpa 24.6 and Shimla 23.4 degree Celsius.
The local Met office has predicted rains and thundershowers at few places in lower, mid and higher hills over the next six days.