Landslidesand flash floods in Himachal cause the deaths of 16 people 8 are missing (Ld)

Shimla 20th, August : Thirty-four instances of flash flood, landslide and cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh owing to heavy rain on Saturday killed 16 people officials said, adding that eight more people are missing.

The railway bridge that crosses the Chakki river that runs along the frontier of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh also collapsed in the disaster 742 roads as well as 172 water supply systems were shut down in the state, according to an official statement by the Chief Secretary (Revenue) Onkar Chand Sharma said.The Chief Engineer (PWD) said that out of 742 roads 407 of them had been repaired by the end of Saturday, and 268 will be fixed on Sunday.

In a review meeting held here the chief secretary R.D.Dhiman instructed the PWD to ensure that all roads are cleared as soon as possible to ensure that there is no interruption in the provision of basic services in the areas affected.He also instructed Deputy Commissioners to ensure that videography of the damages caused by heavy rain, and also to provide shelters for the affected population in the camps.Principal Secretary Sharma said that Rs 232.31 crore has been transferred to districts by the State Disaster Response Fund and enough funds are available with each district to complete the rehabilitation and relief works.The Chief Secretary has directed the Department of Energy to issue the necessary instructions to Pong dam and Chamera dam officials to keep an eye on the level of water of reservoirs as well as send out timely alerts in the event of any possible situation.

In the most affected Mandi district 10 bodies were retrieved including eight from Kashang village and two from Sadoha village -- as a the rescue operation continues to find the missing people.National Disaster Response Force and SDRF personnel are currently stationed in the rescue operations in the region.

The road that connects Mandi and Kullu towns via Kataula is blocked since Friday night because of the landslides in the region.Even landslides have impacted the Chandigarh-Manali highway just beyond Mandi.

State disaster director of management Sudesh Kumar Mokhta informed the media that of the 22 victims, 18 were safely evacuated in Hamirpur district.The bridge spans over 800 metres the Chakki river in Pathankot collapsed after a flash floods swept away the bridge pillar.

The narrow-gauge train service that runs between Pathankot and Jogindernagar was commissioned by the British in 1928 it was shut down in the month of October when the bridge started to crack.The pillar has been removed.

Expressing his sorrow at the loss of lives and the destruction to property due to the heavy rains throughout the state the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur ordered all district administrations to conduct the relief and rescue operation "Relief and rescue missions are conducted on a war footing with local authorities in the respective regions," he said.The government has advised travelers to look up the weather before they travel and to avoid rivers since the majority of they are in flow.

The local Met office has issued a heavy storm and rainfall warnings in mid and low hills until August 21st.