Himachal Pradesh Cloudburst: 2 Dead, 53 Missing, Major Damage

After cloudbursts in the Himachal Pradesh districts of Shimla, Mandi, and Kullu this morning, two persons have perished and at least 53 others are missing. The three districts were destroyed by the cloudburst. Damage has been done to several homes, schools, and hospitals. Operations for relief and rescue are in progress. In Kullu and Mandi, all colleges and institutions have been forced to close by the authorities.

The media was informed of the casualty statistics by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who also stated that authorities had been directed to make all required preparations.

'At the location are authorities, NDRF, SDRF, and DCs. The officials have been told to make all the arrangements. We have also asked the army for assistance. I urge everyone to stay away from rivers and canals. The Air Force has been urged to be prepared.'

Although Manali has lost communication and roads and infrastructure have been devastated, Mr Sukhu claimed that the situation is under control.

Videos indicated that a vegetable market building on the Manikaran-Bhuntar route fell.

At least 20 persons were reported missing in Shimla, the summer capital, following a cloudburst near the Samej Khad hydroelectric power facility. Top authorities, including district police head Sanjeev Gandhi and deputy commissioner Anupam Kashyap, were on their route while a disaster response team was dispatched to the scene.

'According to the information we received, about 20 people are missing from the area affected by the cloudburst.'

The rescue crews are attempting to walk to the impacted site because the cloudburst has disrupted road connectivity in the region.

Cloudbursts have also occurred at Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, which is around 125 kilometres away from Shimla. According to Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan's order, landslides and traffic blockages have been caused by cloudbursts in Rajban village, which is close to Muhal Terang.

'All educational facilities and career training centres in the Padhar subdivision must remain closed, saying that movement of staff, school and college children, and trainees may not be safe and should be restricted.'

According to reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been carefully observing the situation in Mandi and has instructed senior authorities to make sure individuals impacted receive all support available.

The monsoon rage has also disrupted daily life in Uttarakhand, a neighbour. In Jakhanyali, Tehri Garhwal district, a cloudburst resulted in two fatalities and one injury. Anita Devi (45) and Bhanu Prasad (50) have been recognised as the deceased.

Three persons were missing last night as a result of a cloudburst, according to a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) official.

'In the 200-meter-deep ditch, the SDRF discovered a wounded person and two dead during the search. He was brought out on a stretcher.'

According to an official, following intense rain, the roof of a run-down house in Haridwar fell, killing two kids and injuring nine more.

The deceased were named as Nagma (8) and Aas Mohammed (10). According to District Magistrate Dhiraj Singh Garbyal, three of the injured are critically ill, as reported by ANI. 'The others are in the hospital as well, but they are not in danger. It collapsed due to severe rain, and this ancient house was in a poor state,' he stated.

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