Indian Army Mobilizes for Rescue Operations After Himachal Pradesh Cloudbursts

The Indian Army has swiftly mobilized its resources, including rescue teams and medical support, in response to devastating cloudbursts and landslides in Himachal Pradesh. Significant damage and loss of life have been reported in Shimla and Mandi districts, prompting coordinated efforts from multiple emergency response units.

The Indian Army has rapidly mobilized its resources in response to recent natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh. Following cloudbursts and small-scale landslides, the districts of Shimla and Mandi have been significantly affected.

The Indian Army has promptly deployed three columns, totaling 125 personnel, including an Engineer Task Force and a Medical Team of 20 personnel at the cloudburst site in Shimla district. This assistance comes in the wake of a recent cloudburst in the Shimla district.

The Deputy Commissioner of Shimla requested the Indian Army's assistance around 9 am on Thursday after a cloudburst struck Samej village at 2 am, resulting in the loss of three lives and approximately 40 people missing. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Home Guards were on the scene early this morning.

Meanwhile, another cloudburst in Barot village, 70 kilometers northwest of Mandi, led to 10 reported missing persons. An SDRF team is already managing the situation. While no formal request for additional assistance has been received, a column remains on standby at Mamun, ready for deployment if required.

Himachal CM Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu convened an emergency meeting of senior state government officers to review the situation caused by five cloudbursts and heavy rains. Reports indicate three cloudbursts struck Kullu and one each in Mandi and Shimla districts, resulting in two retrieved bodies and over 50 missing persons. Five roads and one national highway have been blocked, and three bridges damaged in the past 12 hours.

The Chief Minister noted the most affected site is the Samej area of Jhakri in Shimla, where a residential area was impacted, with 36 people missing and a road blocked. In Mandi district, a cloudburst near Tikkan Thalukot village in Padhar tehsil reported seven missing persons and two retrieved bodies, with three houses damaged.

(With inputs from agencies.)