Five member of Nepali family engaged in apple picking were washed down by cloudbursts under Nrain Gram Panchayat of Shimla district last night when they were sleeping in the kaucha house last night, senior officer of district administration confirmed.
The Deputy Commissioner of Shimla Mr. Rohan Chand Thakur said that cloud bursts washed away a house and number apple orchards in Brandli village under Gawalri area of Shimla district causing major loss of life and property at 2100 hour last night. He said that a family belonged from Nepal being engaged by local people came under the spate of flash flood. He said that five persons have been killed as the house in which they were sleeping also washed down by the flash flood trapping the six members of family in it. He said that only 12 year old boy has been rescued alive who was rushed to Hospital. However the bodies of four people have been recovered and a six year old girl was reported missing.
The deceased was identified as Lachhman Dass, his wife Dev Kumari, daughter Sunita (7yrs) and son Suraj(6yrs). Gram Panchayat Pradhan Mr. Naresh Chauhan and DSP Rampur Mr. Som Dutt visited the spot. 11 year old daughter of deceased identified as Purshotama could not be traced yet. The cloudbursts has caused massive loss to the ripening crop of apple belonging to Hira Lal, Bogla Devi, Surja Devi, Gokali Devi and Bala Devi. The rescue operation was hampered as link road to affected villlage was shut down by the flash flood. The bodies of four deceased have been recovered from the house debris and search for fifth continues. The District administration provided the assistance to the affected family and other villagers affected due to cloudburst.
