Himachal Pradesh Faces Devastation: Roads, Bridges, and Homes Damaged by Flash Floods and Cloud Bursts

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 3: Several roads in Himachal Pradesh have been damaged due to cloud bursts and flash floods. A total of 191 roads, including 3 National Highways, are closed because of landslides and rain. Additionally, 294 Electricity Supply schemes and nearly 120 water supply schemes are disrupted.

In various parts of the state, 47 people are still missing, with 36 missing in the Samej area of the Rampur Region in Shimla district. Rescue and search operations are ongoing. So far, 6 people have died, 47 are missing, 11 have been safely evacuated, and no one is stranded. A total of 60 houses have been completely damaged, and 35 houses have been partially damaged. Other damages include 19 cow sheds, 5 motorable bridges, 9 pedestrian bridges, 10 shops, 4 schools, 1 health infrastructure, 16 vehicles, and 3 fish farms.

Over 400 personnel from NDRF, SDRF, Police, Home Guard, ITBP, Army, CISF, and others are involved in rescue, search, and relief operations. SP Shimla, Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, stated, “Search operation is continuing. This is a complicated search operation. The water flow has increased. So, all forces here – NDRF, SDRF, CISF, ITBP, Home Guards, and Police jawans are participating in this operation.”

He added, “Searching is being done via drones too. Army’s radar has been brought, sniffer dogs will be used too today. Heavy machinery will be planted at a few locations…”

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for the next 72 hours. The monsoon trough at mean sea level passes through Bikaner, Jaipur, Satna, the center of depression over north Jharkhand & neighborhood, Bankura, Canning, and then southeastwards to the northeast Bay of Bengal.

Earlier today, CISF jawans recovered people’s properties from their houses in cloudburst-affected Rampur’s Samej. CISF Head Constable Rajesh Kumar said, “We are recovering properties stuck in houses following the tragedy that occurred here two days back. The properties are being recovered from the houses safely. This team has been working since morning.”

Due to heavy and incessant rain, Bandrol village was cut off from Kullu due to a landslide. On Saturday morning, NH 5 was cleared and made functional for vehicular movements using JCB machines following a landslide from the hill near Mukam Dattayar Truck Lay Bay. Long queues of vehicles were seen on the Kullu-Manali bypass road. Parts of the Kullu-Manali Highway were washed away in the cloudburst on August 1. Restoration work is underway.

Special Secretary, Disaster Management DC Rana, said, “Thursday’s incident affected mainly the Samej area of Rampur, Bagipul area of Kullu, and Paddar area of Mandi district. These three places were the epicenter of the cloudburst and immediately after getting the information, the specialized agencies responded to the situation. On Thursday, 53 people were found missing. As of Friday, around 6 bodies have been recovered and around 47 are missing. Many villages have been affected, and people have been rendered homeless also. Our specialized agencies are on the spot and they are trying to search for the people who have not been traced.”

The state government, led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has mobilized extensive rescue and relief efforts. The disaster, triggered by a cloud burst, has left a trail of destruction, particularly affecting regions around Manali. Amidst the ongoing operation, Chief Minister Sukhu urged tourists to exercise caution. “While tourists are welcome, I urge them to refrain from visiting risky areas such as rivers and waterfalls for photography and selfies,” he cautioned, stressing the importance of safety during this critical period. Efforts to restore essential services, including water supply and other vital schemes disrupted by the calamity, are also underway.