The first cloudburst occurred late last night in the Samej Khad area of Rampur in Shimla district, resulting in sudden and severe flooding. Shimla Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap confirmed that rescue operations commenced immediately, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), police, and home guards actively involved. Drones are also being deployed to locate the missing persons.
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu convened an emergency meeting to assess the situation. “The cloudburst incident took place around 4:40 am… Around 50 people are missing. 2 bodies have been recovered. Heavy rain is expected in the next 36 hours. DC, SDRF, and NDRF teams have reached the spot. I have also spoken to the Union Home Minister,” he told ANI.
Immediate Focus of Rescue Operations:
- Search and rescue for missing persons
- Providing medical aid to the injured
- Ensuring safe shelter for affected residents
In another incident, a cloudburst was reported in Thaltukhod of the Padhar subdivision in Mandi district. Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan reported that one body has been recovered, and nine people are missing. The severe flooding has caused extensive damage to several houses in the area. NDRF teams have been dispatched to the affected regions.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Chief Minister Sukhu to assess the situation and assured him of central assistance and NDRF support. Union Health Minister and BJP National President JP Nadda also directed all BJP cadres to engage in rescue and relief operations.
“On the sad news of huge losses and disruption of life due to cloudburst in various areas of Himachal Pradesh, Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda spoke to Himachal Chief Minister Sukhwinder Sukhu and assured all possible help from the central government. The BJP President JP Nadda also spoke to former CM and LoP in the Himachal assembly Jairam Thakur and the BJP State President and directed all BJP workers to engage in relief work,” stated the Health Minister’s office.
Jairam Thakur added, “It is bad news for Himachal that in the last rains there were huge losses and again reports of damages are coming this year too. I just had a talk with the CM, and he shared everything in detail. There are reports that 50 people are missing.”
Reports also indicate damage to the Malana (First) hydro power project in Kullu district, with large-scale damages in Mandi district as well. “I told the CM that currently we should focus on the rescue operations,” Thakur said.
Meanwhile, distressing visuals from various parts of Himachal Pradesh have surfaced, showing the swollen Beas River surging through valleys and towns, underscoring the severity of the situation.
The state authorities are urging residents to stay safe and cooperate with the ongoing rescue operations as they continue to navigate through this challenging period.