One dead, 28 missing after cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh
A sudden cloudburst in the Samej Khad area of Rampur, Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh has resulted in one death and left 28 people missing. The incident triggered a large-scale search and rescue operation led by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), as reported by news agency ANI. Shimla Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap confirmed that 19 people went missing following the severe flooding caused by the cloudburst.
Multiple agencies mobilized for rescue operations
Rescue operations have been launched by teams from the National Disaster Response Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, local police, and home guards. Drones are being used to locate the missing individuals. Another cloudburst was reported in Thaltukhod of the Padhar subdivision in Mandi district where Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan confirmed one body has been recovered and nine people are still missing.
BJP cadres urged to assist in relief efforts
Union Health Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party National President JP Nadda has called on all party cadres to assist with rescue and relief efforts in his home state. Nadda spoke with Himachal Chief Minister Sukhwinder Sukhu, assuring him of all possible help from the central government. He also communicated with former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur and the BJP State President, directing all party workers to engage in relief work.
Weather alerts issued amid continued rainfall
The regional Met office in Shimla has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, in isolated places of all Himachal Pradesh districts except Kinnaur, Lahaul, and Spiti. A yellow alert was also issued on Wednesday for heavy rainfall at isolated places from Friday. The wet spell in the state is predicted to last until August 6.
Rainfall data and monsoon-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh
In the 24 hours ending at 5 pm on Wednesday, Dharamshala recorded the highest rainfall of 127.6mm, followed by Una at 60.2mm, Manali at 45mm, and other regions recording lesser amounts according to the regional Met center in Shimla. Data recorded until Tuesday showed that rain-related incidents have claimed 65 lives since the onset of the monsoon on June 27. The state has also suffered losses amounting to ₹433 crore as per the state's Emergency Operation Centre.
