Two killed in rain-related incidents in Himachal

Two people were killed Friday in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh, officials said.

Including Friday's incidents, seven people have now lost their lives due to landslides and because of a bridge being washed away in the state in the past two days.

The Met office here said that the rains were vigorously active in the past two days, causing landslides in some areas and blocking the highways.

While Bangana town in Una district recorded the highest rainfall in the state at 160 mm, it was 138 mm in Nadaun and 110 mm in Sujanpur Thira.

The state capital Shimla saw 23 mm rain.

The entire Kangra, Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur and Mandi districts have been experiencing heavy rain for the past two days.

An official of the weather office said there are chances of heavy rainfall at some places in the state till Saturday.

There were reports of link road closure in the interiors of Shimla, Sirmaur, Mandi, Kangra and Kullu districts, hampering movement of traffic.

"The water level in the major rivers of the state (the Satluj, Beas and Yamuna) which enter the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana has also increased," a government official said.

Torrential rain created flashflood-like conditions in Bhoranj area of Hamirpur where a man was buried under a landslide. The victim has been identified as Ashok Kumar.

Reports say four cattle were washed away in Bhoranj area.

In another incident, a small girl was washed in a swollen rivulet near Sainre village in Kangra district. She was crossing the rivulet along with her parents.

A number of villages in Rampur subdivision of Shimla district have been badly affected as road link was blocked by landslides.

Torrential rain Thursday washed away a bailey bridge in Jahu area of Hamirpur district, killing three people.

The mishap occurred when they were crossing the Seer rivulet.