Himachal rain: toll up to 49, HC hears plea on falling trees

Even as life in Shimla town and its nine sub-divisions started limping back to normal after the havoc caused by the heavy rainfall, the death toll in the past 72 hours, mainly due to the landslides and falling of trees on the houses, has risen to 49. Seven more persons died in the last 24 hours. So far 10 deaths have been reported from Theog, eight from Chopal and six from Shimla town.

Several parts of Shimla continued to remain cut off from other parts following landslides and falling of trees. The electricity and water supply remained affected in the town and the nearby areas.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Jagdish Bhalla and Justice Deepak Gupta, despite it being a Sunday, held the hearing on the state Government’s plea to allow felling of the trees which could fall any time. There are about 250 full-grown trees in Shimla town which pose danger to human life.

On Saturday, the state Cabinet had constituted a committee comprising Deputy Commissioner J S Rana, MC Commissioner Amitabh Awasthi and Conservator of Forests S K Sharma to identify all such trees. The committee visited various areas in this connection on Sunday.

Though the day opened with clear skies, the town witnessed a fresh spell of rain, hampering the work on clearance of roads and the restoration of the water and power supply. The Forest, MC and PWD officials were on their toes, clearing the fallen trees and removing landslides.

Elsewhere in the state, the Government pressed into service Air Force helicopters to rescue Tibetan spiritual leader Karmapa who had been stranded near Balaracha Pass in Lahaul-Spiti district for the past two days because of heavy snowfall. He was safely evacuated to Leh.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal held a meeting with officials, including Additional Chief Secretary Parminder Mathur, who heads the committee on disaster management. “I have rushed Horticulture Minister Narinder Bragta to the apple belt which has witnessed a heavy damage to the roads due to landslides and falling of trees. The restoration and relief efforts will be taken up at a war footing,” he said.

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