The death toll from flash floods triggered by cloudbursts in three districts of Himachal Pradesh has risen to 11, following the recovery of two more bodies from Mandi district. Over 40 people remain missing after cloudbursts struck Kullu’s Nirmand, Sainj and Malana, Mandi’s Padhar and Shimla’s Rampur subdivision on the night of July 31, causing widespread devastation.
Officials reported that the bodies of Sonam (23) and three-month-old Manvi were found in Rajbhan village, located in the Padhar area of Mandi district.
Rescue operations are ongoing, utilising sniffer dogs, drones and other equipment to locate the missing individuals. A total of 410 rescuers from the Army, NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, CISF, Himachal Pradesh Police and home guards are involved in the search efforts.
More than 30 people are missing in Samej village, located in Gram Panchayat Sarpara within Rampur subdivision. Additional machinery has been deployed and rescue operations are in full swing. With the water flow reduced, machines have now reached areas where the missing persons are believed to be, according to C.L. Negi, Up-Pradhan of Sarpara.
The state government announced immediate relief of Rs 50,000 for the victims and promised Rs 5,000 monthly for rent for the next three months, along with gas, food and other essential items.
Since the onset of the monsoon on June 27 until August 3, the state has suffered a loss of Rs 662 crore. Seventy-nine people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents, according to the state emergency operation centre.
With inputs from PTI