Himachal Tragedy: Cloudburst Leaves Trails of Destruction

A series of cloudbursts in Himachal Pradesh resulted in the deaths of three people and left around 50 missing, causing severe damage to infrastructure. Major rescue operations are underway with the involvement of NDRF, ITBP, police, and drones. The calamity affected Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, and other districts, prompting immediate governmental and federal responses.

Three individuals lost their lives and approximately 50 are unaccounted for following a series of cloudburst incidents in Himachal Pradesh. The ensuing torrential rains devastated houses, bridges, and roads, officials reported on Thursday.

The state emergency operation center confirmed that the cloudbursts occurred in Nirmand, Sainj, and Malana in Kullu, Padhar in Mandi, and Rampur in Shimla districts.

One of the deadliest cloudbursts struck Samej Khud in Rampur subdivision, Shimla district, killing two and leaving 28 others missing, according to Superintendent of Police, Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi. Rescue efforts are hindered by washed-out roads, but two individuals have been saved, Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap revealed.

Emergency teams comprising NDRF, ITBP, police, and home guards mobilized for rescue operations, utilizing drones to locate the missing. Another cloudburst in Mandi district's Rajban village resulted in one fatality and nine missing persons. Significant infrastructure damage has also been reported in Kullu district.

Deputy Commissioner of Kullu, Torul S Raveesh, briefed that seven people were missing and multiple houses were washed away in the Bhagipul area. Other regions such as Samej and Malana have also reported missing persons and property damage.

The extreme weather prompted the closure of all educational institutions in the district for two days. The Union Home Minister Amit Shah communicated with Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister to assess the situation and promised federal assistance. The calamity has severely disrupted road connectivity and caused substantial agricultural losses, particularly to the apple crop.

Officials have indicated continuing heavy rainfall, with an orange alert issued for multiple districts. Rain-related incidents have taken a toll, claiming 65 lives since the start of the monsoon on June 27, and causing estimated economic losses of Rs 433 crore.