Heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh, more than 50 missing after cloudbursts at 3 places

Two people have lost their lives and at least 53 others are reported missing following cloudbursts in the Shimla, Mandi, and Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh. The cloudbursts have caused extensive damage across the three areas, affecting numerous houses, schools, and hospitals. Relief and rescue operations are currently underway, and authorities have ordered the closure of all schools and colleges in Kullu and Mandi.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu shared the casualty figures with the media and stated that officials have been instructed to ensure all necessary arrangements are made. "NDRF, SDRF, DCs, and officials are on-site. We have directed them to make all arrangements and have also requested assistance from the army. I urge people to stay away from canals and rivers. The Air Force has been placed on standby," he said.

Mandi loses connectivity

Sukhu noted that while the situation is under control, damage to roads and infrastructure has occurred, and Manali has lost connectivity. Videos have shown a building housing a vegetable market that collapsed on the Manikaran-Bhuntar road.

20 missing in Shimla

In Shimla, at least 20 people are reported missing after a cloudburst near a hydroelectric power project at Samej Khad. A disaster response team has been dispatched to the area, with top officials, including Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap and district police chief Sanjeev Gandhi, en route.

Kashyap reported, "Based on the information we've received, about 20 people are missing from the area impacted by the cloudburst." The cloudburst has disrupted road connectivity, complicating rescue efforts as teams attempt to reach the affected site on foot.

Cloudbursts have also occurred in Mandi, approximately 125 km from Shimla. An order from Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan indicated that cloudbursts in Rajban village near Muhal Terang have caused road blockades and landslides. "Given the current circumstances, the movement of staff, school and college children, and trainees may not be safe and should be restricted," he stated, announcing the closure of all educational institutions and vocational training centers in the Padhar subdivision.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the situation in Mandi and has directed top officials to ensure all possible assistance is provided to those affected, according to sources.

Cloudburst in neighbouring Uttarakhand

The monsoon has also impacted daily life in neighboring Uttarakhand, where two people died and another was injured due to a cloudburst in Jakhanyali, Tehri Garhwal district. The deceased have been identified as Bhanu Prasad (50) and Anita Devi (45). A spokesperson from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) reported that they received information about three individuals missing due to a cloudburst last night. "During the search, SDRF recovered two bodies and found an injured person in a 200-meter-deep ditch. He was rescued on a stretcher," the spokesperson stated.

In Haridwar, two children have died and nine others were injured when the roof of a dilapidated house collapsed under heavy rainfall, according to an official. The deceased have been identified as Aas Mohammed (10) and Nagma (8). District Magistrate Dhiraj Singh Garbyal informed that three of the injured are in critical condition, while the others are hospitalized but out of danger. "This old house was in a dilapidated state, and heavy rain caused it to collapse," he explained.