Finance
At least two people have killed and 50 are missing as a result of multiple cloudbursts in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla, Mandi, and Kullu districts over the last 24 hours, which followed torrential overnight rainfall that caused rivers to overflow.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who is personally monitoring the situation in Shimla, said, “So far two dead bodies have been recovered while 50 people are still missing and search operations were underway, and all resources have been pressed into action. We have sought help from the Army and Air Force. The State has suffered a huge loss.”
“There’s a possibility of heavy rains during the next 36 hours. I appeal people to remain stay away from rivers that are in spate right now,” added Mr. Sukhu.
“Two additional battalions of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed by the Centre for relief and rescue operations,” Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu said on Thursday.
After chairing a high-level conference to evaluate rescue and relief operations, the Chief Minister stated that Rampur Tehsil in Shimla, Padhar Tehsil in Mandi, and Jaon in Kullu’s Nirmand Village were the hardest hit.
The Indian Army and Air Force have been asked to be on high alert in case of an emergency, with the Met Department predicting heavy rain for the next 36 hours.
The tourist destination of Manali has been shut off due to damage to the National Highway.
The disaster struck around 4.40 a.m., the CM told the reporters.
He also mentioned that the Malan hydropower project’s dam in Kullu had been damaged.
“There is some damage to the project. We are monitoring the situation and the government is working on a war footing,” he said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Chief Minister Sukhu via phone to assess the situation following the cloudbursts that caused severe disruption in the Samej Khad area of Rampur in Shimla District.
HM Shah assured Chief Minister Sukhu of central help and NDRF backing.
The CM, who is visiting disaster-affected districts, stated that two dead have been found, and that teams from the NDRF, SDRF, police, Home Guard, and fire services have been involved in relief, search, and rescue efforts.
“The local administration has been instructed to carry out relief and rescue operations smoothly. I am in touch with officials and monitoring the relief and rescue operations,” he wrote on X, adding, “the state government is committed to provide all possible assistance.”
The cloudbursts had the greatest impact on Kullu District and Shimla District, which bordered Kullu.
In Rampur, at least 36 persons have gone missing. Teams from the ITBP, SDRF, and Home Guard are performing search and rescue operations.
According to Mandi Police, a cloudburst occurred in Rajban Village near Terang, destroying two houses and partially damaging one. Nine individuals have gone missing since then, and one injured person has been rescued.
The Meteorological Office in Shimla has issued a ‘Orange’ signal for severe to very heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, in isolated areas of the state over the next 24 hours.
According to reports, the Beas and Parvati rivers are experiencing flash floods in Kullu District have damaged public and private property.
Following heavy rain, a part of Malana’s hydroelectric project on the Parvati River was damaged.
The Kullu administration has issued an alert, asking people not go near the river or water canals.
JP Nadda, the Union Minister and BJP Chief, spoke with the Chief Minister and promised him of the Central government’s full support.
Nadda also met with former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and directed all BJP workers to participate in relief efforts.
The weather office also issued a warning about landslides and flash floods in Kullu, Solan, Sirmaur, Shimla, and Kinnaur districts.
Heavy damage to public and private property has been recorded from Palchan to Patlikuhal in Kullu District.
There are numerous bridges in Palchan and Nehrukund have been damaged due to flooding in the river, officials said.
A recently built vegetable market building collapsed in Kullu.
The National Highway between Kullu and Manali has been closed owing to flooding near Kalath. People living along the riverbanks at Nehrukund, Bahang, Rangdi, Aloo Ground, Kalath, 17 Mile, 15 Mile, and Patlikuhal abandoned their homes as the waters rose.
The road in Palchan has also suffered damage.
The Manali-Leh route is closed owing to large landslides, and the Manali administration was busy warning residents throughout the night.
Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) (Manali) Raman Sharma told the reporters that police officers continued to blast sirens throughout the night to alert locals living along the river banks.
He asked residents to leave their houses only in an emergency, not to travel.
Source:IANS
