Last Updated on 04/08/2024 by wccexam Desk
Due to cloudburst in Himachal, rivers have suddenly flooded. Many people have died and many have gone missing due to cloudburst in Shimla, Mandi and Kullu. After the cloudburst, many roads are closed due to landslides, due to which the rescue team is facing challenges in reaching the spot.
Our correspondent has tried to understand the situation on the ground from the people struggling with the natural disaster. The flood has shocked dozens of survivors. They are telling horrific stories that will send chills down their spine. When the sudden flood waters entered their homes and swept away their family members.
‘Search for missing people continues’
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Shimla Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap told Aaj Tak that rescue teams are searching for missing people in an 85 km long area. The administration is working to rebuild infrastructure and rehabilitate survivors, but measures to protect affected family members from psychological disorders like post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) lack psychological first aid (PFA) facilities.
Psychologists cited the case of 6-year-old Monu to say that the absence of PFA could lead to PTSD as he had lost all his family members.
Dr Krishan K. Soni, Associate Professor Clinical Psychology, PGIMER Chandigarh, told Aaj Tak, “A six-year-old victim will face difficulties in reintegrating with society, as the trauma may be very deep. Psychological First Aid (PFA) is the primary non-pharmacological intervention that can help traumatised people get their lives back on track.”
‘People’s mental health is harmed’
A case study conducted by Aaj Tak on disaster survivors from affected villages like Rampur, Samej in Shimla and Nirmand, Bagipul in Kullu has revealed that the survivors have suffered heavy physical, social and mental health damage.
At Samej, we also met a group of women, most of whom were relatives of the persons reported missing by the administration. Bimla, who is married in the nearby town of Narkanda, has lost her sister-in-law and niece. Fortunately, her brother survived as he was not at home. Another woman, with tears in her eyes, told us that she had lost her brother and sister-in-law.
‘People spent the night in the forest’
We met 45-year-old Yoma Thakur. He told us that he lost his shop in the flash floods in Bagipul, Nirmand subdivision of Kullu district.
She said, “We were sleeping when it happened. Our house was shaking… I thought it was an earthquake. My husband told me it was a flash flood… the water was flowing close to our house. We were five to six families. We left our house in panic and spent the night in the forest, where it was raining heavily. Many were without shoes and without proper clothes. One family had a two-month-old baby. Another family had a child. They have a six-month-old girl with them.”
Yoma also told us that he saw a neighbour on his roof with a torch. The man fell into the floodwaters when the house collapsed.
Fear is still visible on the face of 53-year-old Prakash Chand, who survived the floods along with his family members. He said, “We were in deep sleep when the cloud burst. When we woke up, there was no electricity. I woke up my 89-year-old mother and son, picked up my mobile phone and set out barefoot… We spent the night in a room in the forest and returned in the morning.”
77 people have died so far
So far 77 people have died and 50 people are reported missing in the flash floods following cloudburst in Himachal. State government officials say that 77 deaths have occurred in the state between 27 June and 3 August. About 50 people are reported missing during the monsoon. 33 people have been reported missing from Shimla, nine from Kullu and six from Mandi. Last year, there were 509 deaths and losses of more than Rs 9000 crore during the monsoon.
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has appealed to the central government to conduct a study to find out why so many cloudbursts are taking place in the state.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)