Rain disrupts Shrikhand Yatra, 2 pilgrims among 4 killed in Himachal Pradesh

The annual Shrikhand pilgrimage was called off for the season on Friday evening after two pilgrims died while trekking to the Shivlingam at a height of 17,150 feet. Two deaths were due to heavy rain in other parts of Himachal Pradesh.

Anni sub-divisional magistrate Chet Ram said, “Harish Kumar of Panchkula died at Bhimdwar base camp after trekking his way from Rampur. He did not undergo a medical checkup and was not registered with the government. Rescue is on and the yatra has been called off.”

The second pilgrim, Sohan Lal was from Lucknow and died after slipping from the trail, Chet Ram said.

The Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra, which begins in the middle of July, is considered one of the toughest pilgrimages. There is a 35-km steep climb from Shingarh to the Shrikhand peak that has a 72-foot-high Shivlingam.

The administration has four teams of doctors at the base camps at Thachru, Kunsa, Bhimdwar and Parvati Bagh.

Two pilgrims had died during the trek last week.

Kangra, Hamirpur bear the brunt

Heavy rain pounded Kangra and Hamirpur districts since Friday, claiming two lives and damaging houses and roads.

Police said Jagannath of Jogindernagar in Mandi district died in hospital after he slipped while crossing a bridge at Multhan in Baijnath on Friday evening. He was rushed to Tanda Medical College that referred him to PGIMER, Chandigarh.

Charan Das of Hamirpur died after falling from the roof of his house while draining out rain water.

Link roads in the area were closed due to landslides. The tribal Pangi valley was cut off from Lahaul-Spiti due to a flashflood at Tindi.

The flood washed away the bridge over Dhandal Nullah on the Keylong-Kilar road due to which people on way to Pangi were stuck at Udaipur.

Pangi resident commissioner Chaman Lal said efforts were on to provide relief to resume ration supply.

Crop loss, traffic jams hit Mandi

Incessant rain in Mandi and Kullu districts for the second day on Saturday led to landslides and left fields flooded in Banjar.

Landslides occurred in the Kotrupi and Megal areas of Drang on the Mandi-Pathankot highway early on Saturday. Traffic was restored later in the day.

Roads damaged in Shimla

Rain caused damage to trees and lateral roads in Shimla town. A tree fell near the busy Central Telegraph office building close to the mall road on Saturday morning damaging three vehicles. Many trees were also uprooted in Shimla’s Jakhu locality. The lateral roads were closed but were later restored for traffic.