Shimla (PTI): Six people were killed and 13 others were feared dead in separate incidents of flash flood and landslide triggered by heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh, officials said on Saturday.

Twenty-two people, who were stranded following a flash flood in the state's Hamirpur district, were evacuated safely, they said.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur expressed condolences over the deaths and said that administration is carrying out rescue operations on war-footing in the affected districts.

According to officials, three people were killed after their house collapsed following a landslide triggered by rains in Chamba district.

The Chamba district emergency operation centre (DEOC) said the landslide occurred at Banet village in Chowari tehsil around 4.30 am following which a house collapsed, killing three people.

In Mandi, a girl was killed and 13 others were feared dead in a landslide and flash flood triggered by heavy rains, officials said.

The body of a girl was recovered about half-a-km away from her house in Baghi Nullah on Mandi-Katola-Prashar road on Friday night, while five members of her family were washed away, state disaster management department officials said.

Several families also left their houses located between Baghi to Old Katola areas after a cloud burst and took shelter at safe places, the department added.

Besides, eight members of another family are also feared buried under the debris of their house following a landslide at Kashan village in Gohar development block, the department added.

However, the bodies have not been retrieved yet, it said.

Several roads in Mandi district have also been blocked following flash flood and multiple landslides.

Several vehicles were damaged and a number of villagers were stuck in their houses as water entered their houses and shops at Balh, Sadar, Thunag, Mandi and Lamathach, officials said.

Schools in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district will remain closed on Saturday due to ongoing incessant rains, a senior administration official said.

Several vehicles parked along the road were damaged and residents remained stuck inside their houses, they said.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



New Delhi: The National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) is reportedly developing two special modules on Operation Sindoor, aimed at familiarising students with India's military capabilities.

“While the first special module on Operation Sindoor will be for students of Classes 3 to 8 and second will be available for Classes 9 to 12. The aim of these modules is to make students aware about India's military power and how Pakistan was defeated once again,” Hindustan Times quotes its source as saying.

Each module will span approximately 8 to 10 pages and will focus on the achievements of the Indian Armed Forces.

These modules are expected to be introduced in the upcoming academic session and will supplement the existing syllabus.

In addition to Operation Sindoor, NCERT is also preparing modules on a range of national achievements and historical events. Upcoming topics include Mission LiFE ('LiFEStyle For Environment'), the horrors of Partition, and India's growing stature in space exploration—from the Chandrayaan and Aditya L1 missions to Subhanshu Shukla’s journey to the International Space Station, HT quoted a source from the education ministry as saying.

Meanwhile, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has written to states, directing them to mandatorily adopt NCERT textbooks for Classes 9 to 12. The board has also “strongly advised” that states use either NCERT or State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) books. Supplementary materials may be used by schools, provided they align with the National Curriculum Framework