The local weather center issued a ‘red alert’ for heavy to very heavy rain, thundershowers and lightning at isolated places in Kangra, Kullu and Mandi districts.
हिमाचल में बारिश का कहर, 5 की मौत; 45 लोग लापता, 4 दिनों का अलर्ट जारी
Five people have died and about 45 people are missing in several incidents of cloudburst in Machhal Pradesh and many houses, bridges and roads have been washed away due to rain. Officials gave this information on Thursday.
The State Emergency Operation Centre said that a cloudburst hit Nirmand, Sainj and Malana areas of Kullu, Padhar in Mandi and Rampur in Shimla district.
The local weather centre on Thursday issued a ‘red alert’ for heavy to very heavy rain, thundershowers and lightning at isolated places in Kangra, Kullu and Mandi districts.
Shimla Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi said that due to cloudburst near Shrikhand Mahadev on Wednesday night, there was a flash flood in Sarpara, Ganvi and Kurban drains, resulting in two deaths and 30 others missing due to rising water level in Samej Khud (drain) of Rampur subdivision in Shimla.
Shimla Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap said that rescue operations have become challenging due to the washing away of roads.
Officials said that the Manali-Chandigarh National Highway has been damaged at many places due to landslides.
Shimla Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, who were present at the spot, said that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force, police and home guards have started rescue operations and drones are also being used to search for the missing people.
Officials said that three people died and seven others went missing in another cloudburst incident in Rajban village near Terang in Padhar subdivision in Mandi district on Wednesday night. Two houses were also washed away while another house was damaged.
According to officials, the bodies of Chandi Devi (75) and Chaitri Devi (90) have been recovered and an injured person (25-year-old Ram Singh) was rescued. The injured is in critical condition. Seven people went missing in another cloudburst incident in Kullu district.
Kullu Deputy Commissioner Torul S Ravish said, “Seven people are missing and about eight-nine houses have been washed away in Bhagipul area of Nirmand Mandal in Kullu district. CISF and special home guards have been deployed in the search operation to find the missing people.”
He said that three people are missing in Samej on the border of Shimla district and three-four houses have been damaged. There is also a report of Malana dam breaking, but the situation is under control.
He said that some people are trapped in the Malana-1 hydroelectric project. They are in underground buildings and are safe and NDRF and Home Guard teams are trying to rescue them.
He said that the Manali-Chandigarh National Highway has been damaged at many places due to landslides and water of Beas river entering.
Torul said that all educational institutions and schools in the district have been closed for two days.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and took stock of the situation arising due to cloudburst in the state. Shah assured the Chief Minister of all possible help from the Center in this situation.
Talking to reporters after holding an emergency meeting on the issue, Sukhu said that State Emergency Operations Centres have also been set up at 13 places in the state for disaster monitoring and the district administration has been directed to provide immediate relief to the affected families and build temporary bridges (Bailey Bridge).
Five transport drones will be made available to the police to conduct transport activities in the affected areas and 50 generators will be given to the police to ensure power supply. He urged people to take precautionary measures and not go near the rivers.
Sukhu said that Shah and Union Minister JP Nadda have assured all possible help. He said that help will be sought from the Army and Air Force and two more NDRF teams will be sent to deal with the disaster in the state.
Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said that heavy rains and cloudbursts in the state have caused extensive damage and apple crops have also been destroyed.
The Shimla-Junga road has been closed due to landslides and there are reports of vehicles getting trapped under debris in Rajnagar in Chamba’s Churah assembly constituency and roads are also blocked in Hamirpur district.
Heavy rains have been lashing many parts of Himachal Pradesh since Wednesday evening. Palampur recorded the highest rainfall of 213 mm in the state. It was followed by 203 mm in Churai and 184.2 mm in Dharamsala. Rains are expected to continue in the state for the next four-five days.
According to the Himachal Pradesh Emergency Operations Centre, as per data recorded till Tuesday, 65 people have died in rain-related incidents since the onset of monsoon in the state on June 27. The state has also suffered a loss of Rs 433 crore.
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