Shimla: As many as 17 people died, and six were injured after getting buried under landslides and collapsed buildings in Himachal Pradesh in the past 24 hours.

As many as 37 others are missing under the debris.

According to state CPI(M) counsellor Verinder Thakur of Summerhill Shimla MC, five bodies were evacuated from a shrine near Bioleuganj and 25 others are buried in the rubbles.

He said State Diaster Respose Force is evacuating bodies as 25 devotees were buried alive under Shivmandir temple near Bioleuganj on the outskirts of the capital town as a landslide hit the temple during morning prayers on Monday.

Police sources said devotees gathered in the shrine around 0700 hrs for special prayers on Monday. A massive landslide occurred on the Andadi road near Totu-Shimla Railway line and hit the temple.

A massive landslide over the railway line hit the temple after incessant rainfall overnight.

SDRF personnel are evacuating the victims from the rubble.

Victims could be heard under the rubble seeking assistance.

The incident occurred when a number of devotees were busy preparing ' Khir Parsad' for special prayers early on Monday.

As per initial reports received from the spot, a landslide struck the Shiv Baudi area between Summerhill and Boilueganj and a number of people were under the debris.

State Disaster Management Authority said devasting rain in the past 24 hours has claimed a number of casualties in the state.

According to reports, a massive landslide has hit Boilueganj area of Shimla, affecting a Shiv mandir in which around 25-30 people are expected to be affected.

Seven people, including four children, were buried alive and six injured, four of them seriously following a cloudburst at Jadon village in Jadhana gram panchayat under Kunihar police station in Kandaghat subdivision in this district, Sunday night.

Besides, the muck that slid down after the cloudburst has also washed away cowsheds and caused massive damage to the residential buildings of Harnam Singh and Rati Ram at the villages.

The deceased were identified Harnam singh ( 38), Khem lata w/o Harnam Singh (34), Rahul s/o Harnam Singh (13),Neha d/o Harnam Singh (11), Kamal kishore s/o Bhagat ram (38), Gaurav s/o Kamal kishore (9) and Raksha d/o Kamal kishore (12).

The incident is said to have taken place at midnight when the villagers were in deep sleep.

Meanwhile, the district administration has deployed earth-moving machines to clear the landslides on the road connecting the village and Jadhana panchayat.

Immediate relief and rescue operations were launched by the villages of the area as the road connecting the village was blocked following the triggering of landslides at several places.

Deputy Commissioner Hamirpur Hemraj Bairwa said on Monday due to incessant rains in the district , there has been a lot of damage to public and private property . He said during the last 24 hours, three people have died in the district and two are missing.

As per reports, many trees and debris hit a suburb near Lal Kothi in Phagli, and many dharas(shanties) have collapsed.

The administration fear that nine to ten people were buried in the affected colony.

A rescue team reached the spot and started rescuing the people.

Information has been received that one person has died in this accident.

According to CPI(M) leader Bhupinder Singh Prabhas Rana died while trying to rescue a family after their house collapsed in Taniyar village on Sunday night.

He could not be taken to the hospital due to the rain-affected road.

Comrade Rana was former Pradhan of Dharampur, Panchayat Samiti and member and former president of SFI and CITU.

A report received from Kangra said around 75 people were trapped in flooded water in a Adwani stone crasher under Jawali Subdivision of Kangra district.

(With UNI inputs)