New Delhi: A series of devastating cloudbursts in Shimla, Mandi, and Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh have resulted in the deaths of two individuals and left at least 53 others missing. The incidents, which occurred this morning, caused significant damage to homes, schools, and hospitals across the affected regions. Relief and rescue operations are currently underway, and authorities have ordered the closure of all educational institutions in Kullu and Mandi.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu shared the casualty figures with the media and assured that officials have been instructed to take all necessary measures to manage the crisis.
“NDRF, SDRF, DCs, and officials are on site. We have instructed them to make all necessary arrangements and have also requested assistance from the army. I urge people to stay away from canals and rivers. The Air Force is on standby,” he stated.
Mr. Sukhu mentioned that while the situation is under control, roads and infrastructure have been severely damaged, and Manali has lost connectivity.
Videos showed a building housing a vegetable market collapsing on the Manikaran-Bhuntar road.
In Shimla, at least 20 people were reported missing following a cloudburst near the Samej Khad hydroelectric power project. A disaster response team has been dispatched, and top officials, including Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap and district police chief Sanjeev Gandhi, are en route to the site.
Mr. Kashyap reported, “According to the information we received, about 20 people are missing from the area affected by the cloudburst.”
The cloudburst has disrupted road connectivity, forcing rescue teams to hike to the affected location.
In Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi, about 125 km from Shimla, cloudbursts have also caused road blockages and landslides in Rajban village near Muhal Terang. Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan has ordered the closure of all educational institutions and vocational training centers in the Padhar subdivision, citing safety concerns.
“Given the circumstances, the movement of staff, school and college children, and trainees may not be safe and should be restricted,” said the Deputy Commissioner.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the situation in Mandi and has instructed top officials to ensure all possible assistance is provided to those affected, according to sources.
The monsoon has also wreaked havoc in neighboring Uttarakhand. In Tehri Garhwal district, two people died, and one was injured following a cloudburst in Jakhanyali. The deceased have been identified as Bhanu Prasad (50) and Anita Devi (45).
A spokesperson from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) stated that three people were initially reported missing due to the cloudburst.
“During the search, SDRF recovered two bodies and found an injured person in a 200-meter-deep ditch. He was brought out on a stretcher,” the spokesperson said, as per an ANI report.
In Haridwar, two children died, and nine others were injured when the roof of a dilapidated house collapsed after heavy rainfall. The deceased were identified as Aas Mohammed (10) and Nagma (8). District Magistrate Dhiraj Singh Garbyal told ANI that three of the injured are in critical condition. “The remaining are also hospitalized but are out of danger. This old house was in a dilapidated state, and heavy rain caused it to collapse,” he explained.
