A scene after the cloudbursts in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. (Photo: X/@SukhuSukhvinder)
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh is grappling with the devastating aftermath of unprecedented rainfall following at least five cloudbursts on early Thursday, which has triggered landslides, flash floods, and widespread destruction across the state. The monsoon fury has claimed several lives, displaced thousands, and caused extensive damage to infrastructure.
This comes close to the heels of monsoon-triggered landslides and floods in Kerala’s Wayanad, which has claimed over a hundred people and displaced thousands, so far.
The Himalayan state has been inundated with torrential rain, leading to rivers swelling beyond their banks and overflowing reservoirs. Several districts, including Shimla, Mandi, and Kullu, have been particularly hard hit.
A cloudburst struck Samej village in Shimla district in the wee hours of Thursday, resulting in the loss of three lives. So far, around 40 people remain unaccounted for. Another cloudburst in Barot village, some 70 kilometres northwest of Mandi, wrecked the area leading to 10 people being reported missing. In the Mandi district, near Tikkan Thalukot village, two bodies have been recovered while seven people are still reported missing. Several houses have also been damaged in the state.
Authorities said landslides have blocked roads, due to which remote villages have been isolated hindering rescue efforts.
Several dams in the state, like the Malana dam and Pandoh dam in Mandi district, had swelled beyond capacity for which their floodgates had to be opened, according to protocol. However, accumulation of mud and boulders damaged the switchyard and the Malana II hydropower project.
Visuals of damaged Malana Dam of Himachal Pradesh
— Weatherman Shubham (@shubhamtorres09) August 1, 2024
Video from Chappe Negi Ji pic.twitter.com/YVNMEwjiYh
Pandoh dam (Mandi) today pic.twitter.com/g7vPhTMkE4
— Weatherman Shubham (@shubhamtorres09) August 1, 2024
The Indian armed forces have been deployed in full force to assist the civil administration in rescue and relief operations. They are working in tandem to evacuate stranded people, provide medical aid, and distribute essential supplies. Helicopters are being used to reach inaccessible areas and airdrop relief material.
An official said the Indian Army has deployed its personnel along with a task force of engineers and a medical team comprising doctors and paramedics for search, rescue, and relief operations. These teams are actively engaged in rescue operations at the cloudburst site in Shimla district.
The Indian Air Force is carrying out helicopter sorties to evacuate injured and stranded people and drop relief materials to affected and isolated areas. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are also on the ground, carrying out search-and-rescue operations.
14 NDRF Teams are conducting rescue operations after the cloudburst at Rajban near Muhal Terang, Padhar (Mandi) and Samejh Jhakari (Shimla), HP. So far, 6 victims and 1 livestock have been evacuated. Rescue efforts are ongoing. #NDRF #RescueOps #HimachalPradesh pic.twitter.com/Wul2YIzldm
— 14TH NDRF , NURPUR (@14NDRF) August 1, 2024
The state government has also set up relief camps to accommodate those who have lost their homes.
The Himachal Pradesh government has declared a state of emergency and is working tirelessly to provide relief and rehabilitation to the affected population. The state chief minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has appealed for immediate assistance from the central government to cope with the crisis. The state has suffered immense economic losses due to the destruction of property, crops, and infrastructure.
बीती रात प्रदेश में कई स्थानों पर बादल फटने की दुखद घटना में 50 से अधिक लोग लापता हैं और 2 लोगों के शव रिकवर किए गए हैं।
— Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (@SukhuSukhvinder) August 1, 2024
NDRF, SDRF, होम गार्ड और फायर सर्विसेज की टीमें राहत, खोज और बचाव कार्य में जुटी हुई हैं। सेना से भी मदद माँगी गई है। स्थानीय प्रशासन द्वारा राहत एवं बचाव… pic.twitter.com/B2XhzD2W31
He said the restoration of essential services like power, water, and telecommunications is a top priority.
The meteorological department has issued a red alert for several parts of the state, warning of heavy rainfall and landslides. Residents have been advised to exercise extreme caution and avoid venturing out unless absolutely necessary.
