Heavy rains lash Himachal Pradesh; death toll rises to 18

At least 18 people were killed in Himachal Pradesh while nine died in Uttar Pradesh as heavy rains pounded several parts of north India triggering landslides in hill states and many rivers flowing above the danger mark.

A four-year-old girl died at Roorkee in Uttarakhand's Haridwar district after falling in an irrigation canal which was at spate following rains, while a woman was injured when the thatched roof of a house collapsed. 

The weather department has warned of heavy to very heavy showers in at least eight districts of the state till tomorrow and asked tourists visiting the hilly areas and people living in the low-lying areas to remain alert.

The State Emergency Operations Centre has issued instructions to the district magistrates to maintain vigil as there is a possibility of cloudbursts.

Also, a cyclonic circulation in northwest Bay of Bengal along the Odisha coast is likely to intensify into a low pressure by August 14, the weatherman said in its forecast.

The Met department has forecast heavy rain for the next two days in the coastal districts of East and West Midnapore till Tuesday and in the additional districts of South and North 24 Parganas and Jhargram from tomorrow till Tuesday.

In Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district, officials said the Rispa bridge was washed away due to heavy rains and efforts are on to restore traffic movement by setting up a span bridge.

BJP chief Amit Shah's proposed visit to Shimla on August 16 has been cancelled due to persistent rains, a Himachal Pradesh BJP leader said today.

The Himachal Pradesh government has released Rs 96.50 crore for relief and rescue operations following loss of human life and the property, an official said.

In Uttar Pradesh, three people died in Basti, two each in Sitapur and Kannauj and one each in Sonebhadra and Bijnore in rain-related incidents since last night as thundershowers lashed several parts of the state, officials said.

Rains lashed many places in Haryana and Punjab, with Chandigarh, the joint capital of both states, receiving 21.2 mm of rains during the day.

In Haryana, heavy rains lashed Panchkula district and Ghaggar and Tangri rivers were in spate. There were reports of rain waters entering some slums in low-lying areas.

As many as 774 people have died in incidents related to floods and rains in seven states during the monsoon season so far, the Home Ministry said.