71 dead in Shimla landslide; rescue operation ongoing in Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal Pradesh Rains Live Updates: With the recovery of one more body from the debris of a collapsed Shiv temple in Summer Hill area here, the death toll in the rain fury in Himachal Pradesh has climbed to 72, officials said on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Prof P L Sharma, chairman, department of mathematics, Himachal Pradesh University.

Summary:

• The death toll in the rain fury in Himachal Pradesh has climbed to 72, with the recovery of one more body from the debris of a collapsed Shiv temple in Summer Hill area.
• The deceased was identified as Prof P L Sharma, chairman, department of mathematics, Himachal Pradesh University.
• The temple was crowded with devotees on Monday when the landslide struck. Eight persons are still feared buried in the debris.
• Heavy rains have lashed the hill state since Sunday, triggering landslides in several districts, including Shimla.
• The total number of deaths in rain-related incidents in the state since Sunday night has increased to 72 with Shimla alone accounting for 21 deaths.
• A total of 14 bodies have been recovered so far and around 7-8 are still suspected to be buried under debris.
• The rescue operations entered its 4th day in Summer Hill area on Thursday. The Army, SDRF, and the police are engaged in the ongoing rescue operations here.
• In Shimla, around half-a-dozen buildings are facing a threat due to landslides, while in Kangra district, 1,731 people have been rescued following inundation after the release of water from Pong Dam.
• Several houses in different parts of Shimla are also facing the threat of collapse due to landslides. In Shimla, rains have led to the uprooting of more than 500 trees.
• CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said during a review meeting in Shimla on Tuesday that a 157% surge in rainfall over the past four days has resulted in extensive damage across the entire state.

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