Rain havoc continues in Himachal Pradesh, five people dead so far; 45 people missing

Last Updated on 02/08/2024 by wccexam Desk

Himachal Pradesh cloudburst: Five people were killed and about 45 went missing in multiple incidents of cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh as rains washed away several houses, bridges and roads, officials said. The State Emergency Operation Centre said the cloudburst occurred in 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.

Drones are being used to search for missing people

Shimla Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi said that due to cloudburst near Shrikhand Mahadev on Wednesday night, there was a sudden flood in Sarpara, Ganvi and Kurban drains, as a result of which two people died and 30 others went missing due to rising water level in Samej Khud (drain) of Rampur subdivision in Shimla. Shimla Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap said that the rescue operation has become challenging due to the roads being washed away. Officials said that the Manali-Chandigarh National Highway has been damaged at many places due to landslides. Shimla Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, present at the spot, said that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force, Police and Home Guard have started rescue operations and drones are also being used to search for the missing people.

Seven people missing due to cloudburst in Kullu

Three people were killed and seven others went missing in another cloudburst incident in Rajban village near Terang in Padhar subdivision in Mandi district on Wednesday night, officials said. Two houses were also washed away while another house was damaged. According to officials, the bodies of Chandi Devi (75) and Chaitri Devi (90) were recovered and an injured person (25-year-old Ram Singh) was rescued. The condition of the injured is critical. Seven people went missing in another cloudburst incident in Kullu district.

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Kullu Deputy Commissioner Torul S Ravish said that seven people are missing in Bhagipul area of ​​Nirmand Mandal of Kullu district and about eight-nine houses have been washed away. CISF and Special Home Guard have been deployed in the search operation to find the missing people. She said that three people are missing in Samej on the border of Shimla district and three-four houses have been damaged. There is also news of Malana dam breaking, but the situation is under control. She said that some people are trapped in Malana-1 Hydroelectric Project. They are in underground buildings and are safe and NDRF and Home Guard teams are trying to rescue them. She said that 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 out of the 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 matter, Sukhu said that State Emergency Operation Centers have also been set up at 13 places in the state for disaster monitoring and the district administration has been instructed 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.

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The central government assured all possible help

Sukhu said that Shah and Union Minister J P Nadda have assured all possible help. He said that help will be sought from the Army and Air Force and two more teams of NDRF will be sent to deal with the disaster in the state. Nadda has sought a detailed report from the Chief Minister and assured all possible help from the Modi government. Nadda said in a post on ‘X’ that sad news has been received about large scale damage due to cloudburst at various places in Himachal Pradesh, I have had a detailed discussion with the Chief Minister regarding the natural disasters occurring continuously in the state and have assured all possible help from the Modi government.

Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said that heavy rains and cloudbursts have caused extensive damage in the state and apple crops have also been destroyed. Shimla-Junga road has been closed due to landslides and there are reports of vehicles getting buried under debris in Rajnagar of Churah assembly constituency of Chamba and roads are also blocked in Hamirpur district. Heavy rains have been occurring in many parts of Himachal Pradesh since Wednesday evening. Palampur recorded the highest rainfall of 213 mm in the state. After this, 203 mm was recorded in Churi and 184.2 mm in Dharamshala. Rains are expected to continue in the state for the next four-five days. According to the Emergency Operation Center of Himachal Pradesh, as per the data recorded till Tuesday, 65 people have died in rain-related incidents since the arrival of monsoon in the state on June 27. The state has also suffered a loss of Rs 433 crore.

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