Bulldozer Plunges 300 Meters into Canyon After Heavy Rainfalls in Shimla, Operator Perished
In a tragic turn of events, a bulldozer plunged 300 metres into a gorge on National Highway 5 in Jabli, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, after rocks fell from a hill during heavy monsoon rains [1][2][3]. The driver, Dinesh Kumar from Mandi district, was critically injured and later died at the hospital.
This accident is just one of many incidents that have occurred in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand due to severe monsoon activity between June 20 and August 2. According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), 179 deaths have been reported in Himachal Pradesh as a result of the monsoon activity [1]. The deaths were caused by rain-related disasters like landslides, flash floods, and lightning strikes (101 deaths) and weather-exacerbated road accidents (78 deaths) [1].
The state is facing a huge disruption with 403 to 404 roads blocked, notably 174 in Mandi, 111 in Chamba, and 67 in Kullu districts [1]. Additionally, 411 power distribution transformers have been disrupted, and 196 water supply schemes are out of service as of Friday evening [1][2].
The floods and landslides have severely affected public infrastructure, causing extensive damage estimated at Rs 1,692 crore in losses across industries, residential areas, and government facilities in Himachal Pradesh [2]. Reports also indicate ongoing roadblocks and similar rain-induced hazards in nearby Uttarakhand, though specific updated details for Uttarakhand were not provided in these sources.
Amidst these challenges, public safety and restoration efforts continue in both states. A man even rappelled down the landslide-hit mountain into the debris in an attempt to reach the driver of the bulldozer [4].
Sources:
[1] The Indian Express. (2021). Monsoon fury: 179 deaths, 78 in road accidents, in HP since June 20. Retrieved August 3, 2021, from https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/monsoon-fury-179-deaths-78-in-road-accidents-in-hp-since-june-20-7991292/
[2] Times of India. (2021). Monsoon fury: Himachal Pradesh suffers losses of Rs 1,692 cr. Retrieved August 3, 2021, from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/shimla/monsoon-fury-himachal-pradesh-suffers-losses-of-rs-1692-cr/articleshow/84954540.cms
[3] NDTV. (2021). Bulldozer Driver Dies After Falling 300 Meters Into Gorge In Himachal Pradesh. Retrieved August 3, 2021, from https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bulldozer-driver-dies-after-falling-300-meters-into-gorge-in-himachal-pradesh-3027323
[4] Hindustan Times. (2021). Man rappels down landslide-hit mountain to reach bulldozer driver in Himachal Pradesh. Retrieved August 3, 2021, from https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/man-rappels-down-landslide-hit-mountain-to-reach-bulldozer-driver-in-himachal-pradesh-101628160893412.html
General news outlets are reporting a significant increase in accidents on roads in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand due to severe monsoon activity. Among these, weather-exacerbated road accidents have claimed 78 lives in Himachal Pradesh alone [1]. These accidents, such as the one involving a bulldozer that plunged 300 metres into a gorge on National Highway 5 [3], are being linked to the adverse weather conditions and resulting poor weather forecasting.
