As per reports, the old bridge over Bhargavi river near Balikera village under Brahmagiri block of the district serves as a connecting link for the villagers with the outside world. The students also have to cross the bridge to reach their school.

On the day, while the group of students were crossing the rickety bridge, it suddenly collapsed. They did not fall into the river as they hanged on to the bridge and cried for help. Some villagers rushed to the spot and rescued them, the sources said.

Besides the people of Balikera, residents of 25 villages under three panchayats depend on the 20-year-old wooden bridge to cross the river for their daily activities. Though the villagers have requested the administration to construct a permanent bridge over the river several times, no step has been taken so far.

Bridges have collapsed, cars have been washed away, highways have been flooded and people are stuck due to landslides at several places. Nine people have died so far.

As many as 13 landslides and 9 flash floods have been reported since the early hours of Saturday, PTI quoted the state emergency operation center as saying.

In Tehri Garhwal district, 3 people were killed and 3 others are missing after a vehicle was hit by a landslide and fell into the Ganga on Sunday.

One pilgrim lost his life and 2 others went missing after falling from a hill near Parvati Bagh during Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra, which has been suspended for July 9 and 10, ANI reported.

Traffic between Kullu and Mandi was disrupted after a portion of National Highway 3 was washed away by the overflowing Beas river.

Traffic has also been halted on Kullu-Manali highway and Manali to Atal Tunnel. All trains between Shimla and Kalka have been cancelled because of landslides and falling of trees on railway tracks at several places.