2 Telangana State men die in HP flood fury

Hyderabad/Nalgonda/Shimla: Two persons working as managers in Sushee Hi-Tech company, owned by MLC Komatireddy Rajagopla Reddy in Nalgonda district, died in the Himachal Pradesh landslide that claimed over 46 people on Sunday.

The two deceased were identified as Raja Reddy of Bibinagar in Yadadri district and Kondal Reddy of Ouravani of Narketpally mandal in Nalgonda district. The duo was looking after the contract works of the company in Himachal Pradesh.

A massive mudslide swallowed a 150-metre stretch of the road, and buried homes, two buses and vehicles in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district on Sunday. Twenty-four bodies were recovered so far, and five injured were rescued after a day-long operation, Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Kadam told reporters at the spot. He warned the death toll could rise as the search for survivors continues. Rescue workers were digging throughout the day to find survivors trapped by mud.

The mudslide occurred around 12.20 am on the Mandi-Pathankot highway near Kotropi village in Jogindernagar tehsil, 220 km from here, when two Himachal Road Transport Corporation buses had stopped at a kiosk on the highway for refreshments.

"As per the last communication with the driver, the bus (to Manali) was packed to capacity," Transport Minister GS Bali told a news channel. Over 40 passengers were on board the bus headed to Manali from Chamba at the time of the disaster.

The bus rolled down 800 metres below the road and is traced under a huge mound of debris, an official said. He said bodies of 21 passengers travelling in this bus were retrieved. Mangled remains of the second bus bound for Katra in Jammu were retrieved totally. Three of the eight persons on the bus died.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths. "Pained by the loss of lives due to landslide related accidents in HP's Mandi district. My condolences with the families of the deceased," Modi said in a tweet.

A pall of gloom descended on the families of Nalgonda victims. According to information, the bodies may arrive to their respective villages in a couple of days.10 killed in Assam

Even as the Centre assured of all help to flood-hit Assam, the state authorities on Sunday directed officials concerned to speed up rescue and relief operations for over 11 lakh affected persons amid reports of 10 more deaths in the last 24 hours. Over 11 lakh people living in at least 19 of the 33 districts in Assam have so far been affected by a third wave of floods this year.

Modi spoke to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and enquired about the scale of devastation caused by floods, apart from assuring of all central cooperation. Sonowal apprised Modi about his government's relief and rescue efforts and that district administrations in all flood-hit districts had been directed to ensure speedy relief distribution.

The Chief Minister visited a flood relief camp at Bhismak LP School at Panchmile in Sadiya on Sunday and took stock of arrangements made for the camp inmates. He visited Kundil riverside and directed the Water Resources Department to take immediate measures to stop soil erosion due to floods.

Bihar flood situation grim

Patna: The flood situation in Bihar continued to be grim on Sunday as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar sought the help of the Army and the Indian Air Force in relief and rescue of thousands of people affected by the deluge, officials said. "The flood situation in Bihar is grim. The state government is fully alert and we have sought help from the Army and IAF helicopters to rescue affected people and distribute relief among them," Nitish Kumar said at an official function here.

The Chief Minister said he had requested Prime Minister Narender Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to provide all possible central help for rescue and relief for the affected. "Both have assured of the assistance," Nitish Kumar said. Nearly half a dozen districts in Seemanchal and Koshi areas in the state were the worst affected following heavy rains during the past three days. All major rivers in Bihar are in spate after heavy rains in their respective catchment areas in Nepal and Bihar.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke with Nitish Kumar over phone and discussed the flood situation in the state. He said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had already reached the flood affected areas and the Centre was rushing additional NDRF teams to Bihar to help in the ongoing rescue and relief operations.