Shimla: A number of cloudbursts and flash floods at different places in Himachal Pradesh in the last 24 hours have left three dead and dozens missing, as well as caused damage to roads, houses, and infrastructure.
In Shimla, Kullu and Mandi districts, as many as 51 people were reported missing in midnight floods following torrential rains in the wake of a long, dry spell. Three persons have died, according to the government.
The gushing Beas river damaged parts of the Chandigarh-Manali highway.
Major devastation has been reported in Samej village of Jhakri in Shimla district, where residents were caught unawares when a cloudburst happened around 12 am and flooded the Samej khad (rivulet). Search and rescue teams recovered one body, which is yet to be identified. Around 35 people are reported to be missing there.

Purn Chand, a security guard at a small hydropower project in the village, told ThePrint that the water level rose swiftly in the area. “We could not come out from the project site. Gushing water flooded the village around 12.15 am. By the time relief and rescue teams reached, the village site was left with mud and gravel.”
A cloudburst also occurred at Singhaad (Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra base camp) and triggered floods in the Kurpan khad. The raging rivulet devastated Bagipul village in Kullu’s Nirmand subdivision.
Kullu deputy commissioner Torul Raveesh told ThePrint: “Seven persons have gone missing at Bagipul. Around 11 houses have been washed away. Relief and search operation have been launched.”
The Kurpan khad also damaged five-six houses in Kedas village of Kullu district. Local resident Priyanka Mahant said the water level of the river rose gradually. “Around 11 pm, we went up to a higher place. The flood has damaged some houses and farmland in the village,” she added.
Yet, another cloudburst hit Rajavan village in Mandi’s Padhar valley. As many as nine persons have been reported missing, while four houses got damaged.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu convened a high-level meeting to review the situation. “More than 50 people have gone missing. Relief and rescue work is on. The NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, police, home guards, fire brigade and other departments have been engaged. I am monitoring the situation,” he told the media after meeting.
The CM also appealed to all people, especially tourists, to stay away from rivers and rivulets. “There is a possibility of heavy rains in the next 36 hours,” he said.
NDRF director general Piyush Anand told the media that four teams were present in Himachal. “Rescue work is going on. It will take some time for the situation to stabilise. We are trying our best to rescue people as soon as possible.”
In Kullu, the raging Parvati river caused devastation downstream. A part of the dam of Malana hydroelectric project got breached Thursday night, according to the government.
‘Mountain Man’ Chhape Ram Negi posted videos of the floods on social media. “The gushing Parvati river swept away some houses and farmlands downstream. I am helping in the rescue and relief operations along with NDRF teams,” he told ThePrint.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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