Shimla, May 16
Several areas of Himachal were lashed by a severe storm followed by hail and rain, disrupting life.

The storm provided relief from heat but caused extensive damage to crops and affected power supply and communication. Mandi and its surrounding areas were hit by thunderstorm accompanied by rain and hail this evening. A storm with estimated speed of 70 km to 75 km per hour swept the region bringing traffic to a halt. The storm blew off roofs of mud houses, boards and hoardings and forced people to stay indoors.

The town was lashed by a severe storm last night also causing extensive damage to crops, reports here said.

The state capital Shimla and its surrounding areas were also lashed by a thunderstorm, accompanied by showers. The town recorded 7.3 mm of rains and day temperature fell from 24.6 degrees Celsius to 14.2 degrees Celsius. The sky remained heavily overcast and more rain was predicted.

Towns of Palampur and Dharamsala were hit by a severe storm this evening, paralysing life.

Dark clouds overcast the sky, reducing visibility to a few yards, disrupting traffic. Vehicles were forced to move with head-lights on even during the day time and at snail’s pace.

Reports of hailstorm were also received from the tourist resort of Narkanda and its adjoining areas and Kufri in Shimla district and Kangra districts of the state, while Pangi and Bharmaur areas of Chamba district and Kulu district received light showers.

HISAR: A girl was killed and several persons were injured as a number of houses collapsed due to the hailstorm which lashed the district and nearby areas last evening. The maximum damage was reported from Ekta Colony near Gangwa village in the district.

Around 25 houses were damaged in this colony, with roofs of several houses falling and walls caving in. The district administration has sent a team to assess the situation. A mobile medical van of O.P. Jindal Gramin Jan-Kalyan Sansthan has also reached to tend to the injured.

Pooja was killed when the debris of the roof fell on her. Her body was handed over to the family members after post-mortem. Several persons injured in the incident have been hospitalised.

Three critically injured persons Chander Bahadur, Dil Bahadur and Manisha—are now out of danger.

The residents whose houses were damaged spent the day in makeshift shacks. Apart from administrative officials, several social activists and prominent persons from the city visited the site and extended help to the victims. Leaders of the Lok Janshakti Party also visited the colony.