Flash floods wreak havoc in Himachal Pradesh: Over 50 missing, several trapped; rescue ops underway| IN POINTS
The cloudbursts occurred in the Nirmand, Sainj, and Malana areas of Kullu, Padhar in Mandi, and Rampur in Shimla districts
Shefali Kohli
August 2nd 2024 12:09 PM
Flash Floods in Himachal Pradesh: Torrential rains have caused devastating flash floods in various parts of Himachal Pradesh, leading to a catastrophic situation where over 50 people are reported missing, and several others are trapped.
Flash floods wreak havoc in Himachal Pradesh
- Restoration works are underway in Himachal Pradesh's Rampur Bushahr where an incident of cloudburst occurred, yesterday.
- According to State Minister Rajesh Dharmani, 4 people have died, several still missing.
- The CM has conducted a high-level meeting in the Secretariat. He tried to visit the affected area, but it was not possible due to bad weather conditions. Kullu, Shimla and Mandi districts have been badly affected by the disaster
- The Malana Dam on the Parvati River in Himachal Pradesh burst, causing extensive damage to houses, temples, and crops in the surrounding area. The sudden release of water led to widespread flooding, submerging entire villages and devastating agricultural fields
- The districts of Mandi, Kullu, and Kangra have been particularly affected, with many villages inundated and infrastructure severely damaged. The incessant rains have led to landslides, further complicating rescue efforts and blocking key roads and highways, making accessibility a major challenge.
- The cloudbursts occurred in the Nirmand, Sainj, and Malana areas of Kullu, Padhar in Mandi, and Rampur in Shimla districts. As relentless rains caused the Parvati River to swell at Sainj, over a dozen houses were swept away, and two bridges sustained damage.
- Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local administration have been dispatched to the affected areas to recover bodies. A total of 35 people have been rescued from various locations, with officials utilizing drones to find missing individuals.
- The Manali-Chandigarh National Highway has been damaged in several spots due to these landslides.
- DGP has reviewed the procurement of communication and monitoring devices and the establishment of the State Disaster Control Center for effective disaster mitigation. Key directives were issued for satellite phones, drones, and operational guidelines.