22 dead, Rs 172 cr loss incurred in Himachal Pradesh since monsoon onset

Twenty-two lives have been lost in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh and the state has suffered a loss of Rs 172 crore in the two weeks since the monsoon onset on June 27, officials said on Wednesday.

They said eight of them drowned, six fell from height, four were electrocuted and three died of snakebite, while two people were still missing.

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, five roads were closed in Mandi, four in Shimla and three in Kangra.

Residents of Lindoor village of the tribal Lahaul and Spiti district where cracks appeared during the last monsoon season said they were apprehensive as 14 houses and 200 bigha land could cave in during heavy downpours.

A cow was killed as a wall of a cowshed collapsed following a landslip in the Gheva panchayat of Chail, in Solan district.

According to the weather office, Baijnath received 32 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, followed by Poanta Sahib with 18.4 mm, Dhaulakuan with 17.5 mm, Dharamshala with 11 mm, Dalhousi