Cloudburst in Samej, Himachal Pradesh: 45 People Washed Away, Rescue Operations Underway
A catastrophic cloudburst occurred near the Samej and Bagi bridges in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday night, washing away 45 people near Shrikhand. Rescue operations are currently underway.
Rescue Efforts
Baljinder Singh, Commandant of the 14th Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), stated that the NDRF teams were sent well-prepared to Himachal Pradesh this year to ensure no delay in rescue operations. Singh said, “This year, the NDRF teams were sent to remote locations in Himachal Pradesh to ensure there is no delay in the rescue operations. The Samej cloudburst that has taken place is a huge disaster.”
As of Thursday morning, 13 bodies have been recovered. Singh added, “We have recovered 13 dead bodies as of now. Four dead bodies were recovered earlier. Ten more people were missing, and we have found nine bodies as of now. One person has still not been found. We will make sure the rescue operations are carried out properly.”
Weather Conditions
On August 7, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported significant rainfall across the state, with Joginder Nagar in Mandi district experiencing the highest at 110 mm in 24 hours. Kuldeep Srivastava, head of IMD Himachal Pradesh, stated that alerts were issued for various regions. “We have recorded the highest rainfall at Joginder Nagar in Mandi district at 110 mm during the past 24 hours. It is heavy rainfall, and in Sirmaur district, we have received heavy rainfall,” Dr. Srivastava said.
He added, “In other parts of the state, there has been moderate rainfall. Nearly 75 percent of areas have received between 30 mm to 50 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours.” The IMD has issued an orange alert for the lower Himalayan districts of Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Chamba, and Mandi.
Doubts Revealed
Cloudburst -: A cloudburst is a sudden, very heavy rainfall that can cause floods. It happens quickly and can be very dangerous.
Himachal Pradesh -: Himachal Pradesh is a state in northern India, known for its beautiful mountains and valleys.
Rescue Operations -: Rescue operations are efforts by trained people to save others who are in danger, like those trapped by floods.
NDRF -: NDRF stands for National Disaster Response Force. They are special teams in India that help during natural disasters like floods and earthquakes.
IMD -: IMD stands for India Meteorological Department. They study the weather and give warnings about things like heavy rain or storms.
Joginder Nagar -: Joginder Nagar is a town in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. It is known for its scenic beauty and high rainfall.
Orange Alert -: An orange alert is a warning given by weather experts when there is a high chance of severe weather, like heavy rain, which can be dangerous.
Lower Himalayan districts -: Lower Himalayan districts are areas in the lower part of the Himalayan mountain range. These areas can be prone to heavy rains and landslides.