SHIMLA/MANDI: Three kids hugged to their mother were among eight members of a family found dead under debris of their house in Kashan village in Gohar in Mandi district. In all a series of cloud bursts struck its blow in Mandi, Kullu, Kangra and Chamab districts, killing 20 people, washing away Chhakki Bridge,  dozens of shops and vehicles,  rendering many houseless in Himachal Pradesh.  

The floods and cloud bursts caused by the heavy rains killed 12 in Mandi district, four people in Chamba and two each in Shimla and Kangra districts for last 24 hours in Himachal Pradesh, revealed reports here. 

 As many as 123 roads remained blocked for traffic due to the landslides in the state today. 

Hundreds of trucks carrying apple cartons to outside markets from Shimla district were stuck between Mehli  BaraGaon  and Shoghi bypass road as the road was blocked by the landslide till the last report at 9:50 PM on Saturday. 

The cloud burst rocked the state conscience when the massive debris brought down a house and buried eight members of the family dead while they were asleep around 3:00AM today.

They have been identified as Pradhan gram panchayat Khem Singh(35), his wife Mira (34), their two sons- Bhaskar(14), Tejender(11), his sister-in-law Kamla Devi( 32), her daughter, Rohini, Divyanshi(7) and father in law,  Dagu Ram (55) from Thunag,  who had visited his daughter.  

They were found dead in debris of the House in Kashan village  after the rescue operation  retrieved their bodies in critical condition today.  

It was  uncle of Khem Chand living in the separate house in the village who first was woken to the sound of the collapse of the house.

He sounded the villagers, who launched the rescue operation, but could not do much to save the ill-fated members of the family. Their bodies were retrieved after the rescue team reached the village and launched the search for the bodies in the muddy debris of the house by cutting the lantern.

The flash flood in khad of Thunag, home town of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, inundated over dozen shops and washed away vehicles.

In Sandoha near IIT Mandi, six family members of Sattar Ali, his two sons, Chaiya, Sajjid and his  two daughters Sajjida and Suhana  and other family member  Taufik Akhtar were feared washed away in the flood last night. The two bodies were recovered, while search for other was on, said the police.

In Bagi village on the Kamand- Prashar road, few people of a were feared washed away in the  flash  flood in the Bagi Nalla and remained missing so far.           

In Kangra district, the antique British built Railway Chakki bridge collapsed in the flash flood. The train service between Pathankot and Jogindarnagar had remained suspended since July last.  

The two youth died after their bike they were riding  were hit by the shooting stones in Jawalapur in Drang in Mandi district.

The villagers from two villagers of Pundal were evacuated after the Kotrupi area located right above the villages  developed cracks in the hills.      

In precautionary measure taken in view of the forecast of heavy rainfall predicted by the MET department for the three days from today, district administration has closed schools in Kullu and Mandi.  

Chief Minister directs the DCs to ensure immediate relief and rescue operations

In video conference with Deputy Commissioners of the State from Sarahan in Sirmaur district Chief Minister reviewed the situation, directed them to ensure immediate relief and rescue operation besides deploying men and machinery at strategic points.

Chief Minister said major roads in apple growing areas and leading towards hospitals must be restored on priority.

He said that tourists must be advised to stay away from slide prone points and river banks to avoid untoward incidents. He said that the Union Government would be requested to send additional central teams to undertake the relief and rehabilitation works.

Jai Ram Thakur said that   as of now the state has reported 20 deaths during the last 24 hours. He also directed all the line departments for maintaining proper coordination for effective rescue operations.

He directed the Deputy Commissioners to take decisions regarding closure of schools in their respective districts as per requirement.

He expressed grief over the deaths reported due to landslides and flash floods and prayed to the Almighty to grant peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families to bear the irreparable loss. 

Chief Secretary R.D. Dhiman ensured that every possible arrangement would be made to restore damaged roads and all essential services.