27 killed as rains pound N India

Shimla/Lucknow: 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.

The weather department has warned of heavy to very heavy showers in at least eight districts of Uttrakhand till Tuesday 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 possibility of cloudbursts.

In Himachal Pradesh, incessant rains since Sunday triggered landslides at several places, closing roads and forcing authorities to advise tourists to reschedule their visit to the state.

People residing in low-lying areas have been asked not to go near the Beas River as water is being released from the Pandoh Dam in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district.

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 on Monday.

While all government and private schools in Shimla, Kinnor and Kullu districts will remain closed tomorrow, authorities in Kangra, Mandi, Una, and Hamirpur have ordered closure of all educational institutes there.

Schools in several districts in the state remained shut on Monday due to heavy rains.

According to information received at the state headquarters, eight people were killed in Solan district, four in Mandi, two each in Hamirpur and Kangra districts and one each in Bilaspur and Una.

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.

The Ghaghra river at Elgin Bridge in Barabanki, Ayodhya, and Turtiparin Ballia was flowing above the red mark, while the Sharda river was flowing above the danger mark at Palia Kalan, a Central Water Commission report said.

The Ganga at Narora, Fatehgarh, Gumtia, Ankin Ghat and Kanpur, and the Yamuna at Prayag Ghat in Mathura, Sai at Rae Bareli, Rapti at Balrampur and Bansi, Quano at Chandradeep Ghat flowed at dangerous levels.

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.