August 08, 2013 - INDIA - Widespread rains on Wednesday dislocated more than 20 houses,
leaving other buildings shaky, making people leave their houses in panic
and rush to safer places in a village and Army cantonment area near
here. About 100 residents were rendered homeless till evening, but no
loss of life was reported. The affected area included a major part of Tihra lines and covered Army quarters and about 12 private buildings.
Army was arranging food and shelter for effected people. Local administration has evaluated a loss of around Rs 3 crore and has announced Rs 2 lakh as quick relief.
Sources said that presence of mind displayed by the villagers saved many lives. The landslide began at around 3.30 in the morning and continued for over two hours, sweeping away half a dozen Army quarters. The villagers had a miraculous escape after a resident of the village woke up to the continuous hauling by his pets and sounded an alert minutes before the tragedy struck. Victims stated that wearing down of the land started since morning, but no one expected that rains will even dislodge houses. After a building moved away in late afternoon, people vacated houses, taking essential belongings along.
"We were vigilant since morning as the land started wearing off in early morning hours. But we hadn't anticipated that houses will be moved away. This is something totally unexpected. In late afternoon, as one building got shifted away, we started vacating our houses. Soon, about 20 houses were moved away," said Savita Pradhan, resident of an affected panchayat.
Additional district magistrate (ADM) Rakesh Sharma and sub-divisional magistrate Harish Gajju supervised the rescue and relief operations. The affected families were staying in a temporary transit camp set up by the Army in the premises of a Central school, sources said.
"Half a dozen Army quarters buildings and four private houses were completely destroyed while around a dozen houses have been partially damaged," said ADM Rakesh Sharma, adding that the Sansari Mata temple in the locality was swept away and a few buildings belonging to Army left teetering on the edge of a cliff.
He said no loss of life has been reported in the incident. "Loss of property is likely to run into crores of rupees. Immediate relief has been disbursed among victims," he said. Affected people will be shifted from the transit camp to buildings provided by the Army, he added.
Meanwhile, vice chairman, Himachal Pradesh Forest Corporation, Kewal Singh Pathania visited the spot and assured all possible help to the victims.
"I have urged deputy commissioner, Kangra to assess the losses and release financial aid to the victims immediately as per relief manual," said Pathania, adding that he will also take up the matter with chief minister Virbhadra Singh. Urban development minister and local MLA, Sudhir Sharma, has also expressed shock over the incident. 'Government will provide land and financial assistance for construction of houses for rehabilitation. Land will be provided at some alternate place as the hill where the village was situated has become a sliding-prone zone," said Sharma. - Times of India.
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| File photo. |
Army was arranging food and shelter for effected people. Local administration has evaluated a loss of around Rs 3 crore and has announced Rs 2 lakh as quick relief.
Sources said that presence of mind displayed by the villagers saved many lives. The landslide began at around 3.30 in the morning and continued for over two hours, sweeping away half a dozen Army quarters. The villagers had a miraculous escape after a resident of the village woke up to the continuous hauling by his pets and sounded an alert minutes before the tragedy struck. Victims stated that wearing down of the land started since morning, but no one expected that rains will even dislodge houses. After a building moved away in late afternoon, people vacated houses, taking essential belongings along.
"We were vigilant since morning as the land started wearing off in early morning hours. But we hadn't anticipated that houses will be moved away. This is something totally unexpected. In late afternoon, as one building got shifted away, we started vacating our houses. Soon, about 20 houses were moved away," said Savita Pradhan, resident of an affected panchayat.
Additional district magistrate (ADM) Rakesh Sharma and sub-divisional magistrate Harish Gajju supervised the rescue and relief operations. The affected families were staying in a temporary transit camp set up by the Army in the premises of a Central school, sources said.
"Half a dozen Army quarters buildings and four private houses were completely destroyed while around a dozen houses have been partially damaged," said ADM Rakesh Sharma, adding that the Sansari Mata temple in the locality was swept away and a few buildings belonging to Army left teetering on the edge of a cliff.
He said no loss of life has been reported in the incident. "Loss of property is likely to run into crores of rupees. Immediate relief has been disbursed among victims," he said. Affected people will be shifted from the transit camp to buildings provided by the Army, he added.
Meanwhile, vice chairman, Himachal Pradesh Forest Corporation, Kewal Singh Pathania visited the spot and assured all possible help to the victims.
"I have urged deputy commissioner, Kangra to assess the losses and release financial aid to the victims immediately as per relief manual," said Pathania, adding that he will also take up the matter with chief minister Virbhadra Singh. Urban development minister and local MLA, Sudhir Sharma, has also expressed shock over the incident. 'Government will provide land and financial assistance for construction of houses for rehabilitation. Land will be provided at some alternate place as the hill where the village was situated has become a sliding-prone zone," said Sharma. - Times of India.
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