Heavy rains in Himachal, 2 women die in house collapse

Two women were killed and several persons injured today in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh taking the death toll to 20 as heavy rains continue to battered the state, triggering landslides and uprooting trees.
A house collapsed at Jawgadhar village in Sirmaur district killed Kanso Devi (50) and Kumari Seema (16) while two others were seriously injured and rushed to the nearest hospital.
Deputy Commissioner of Sirmour B C Badalia said an alternative shelter has been provided to the affected family and immediate relief of Rs 20,000 has been given to the kin of the deceased.
In another incident, six workers of a company were stranded near Manali following a landslide, said Manali SDM Jyoti Rana. They were rescued by the local administration.

The company has been asked to shift its workers to safer places because of threats from landslides and flash floods during the monsoon.
At least 20 people have died in rain-related incidents in the state. 70 cattle have perished and 300 houses damaged.

The total loss to property due to rains has been estimated to be around Rs 160 crore, Special Secretary (Revenue, Finance and Disaster Management) D D Sharma said.
The heavy rains have improved the rain-deficit from 31 per cent to 29 per cent in the state.
Gaggal was the wettest with 166 mm rains while, Palampur and Dharamsala received 155 mm and 130 mm rains, followed by Jogindernagar 116 mm, Manali 26 mm and Kasauli 20 mm.

The maximum temperatures dipped by 4-5 degrees at several places following the rainfall. Una, which was hottest in the region, recorded a high of 32.8 degrees Celsius.
The local MeT office has predicted rains or thundershowers at many places in lower, mid and higher hills during the next six days.