Tragic Flash Floods Ravage Himachal Pradesh: 13 Dead, 40 Missing

Flash floods caused by cloudbursts in Himachal Pradesh have resulted in 13 fatalities, with 40 people still missing. Rescuers have intensified search efforts across Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla districts. The state government announced immediate relief funds for victims, while the overall damage amounts to Rs 662 crore.

The death toll from flash floods triggered by cloudbursts in three districts of Himachal Pradesh has risen to 13, following the recovery of four bodies from Mandi and Shimla districts on Sunday. Over 40 people remain missing after a series of cloudbursts devastated Kullu's Nirmand, Sainj, and Malana, Mandi's Padhar, and Shimla's Rampur subdivision on the night of July 31.

The bodies of Sonam (23) and three-month-old Manvi were found in Rajbhan village in Padhar area of Mandi district, officials confirmed. Later in the evening, two more bodies were recovered near Dhakoli on the banks of the Satluj River in Rampur, according to Shimla SP Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi.

Rescue operations have been intensified with the deployment of additional machinery, sniffer dog squads, drones, and other equipment, officials said. While rescue efforts continue, locals reported power outages in three villages—Samej, Dhara Sarda, and Kushwa—situated on the Shimla-Kullu border. A total of 410 rescuers from the Army, NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, CISF, Himachal Pradesh Police, and home guards are involved in the search operations. Four additional JCB machines have been deployed as the water flow decreases, enabling machines to access the areas where the missing persons might be found.