Himachal Pradesh Floods: 2 dead and several feared missing; rescue operations underway

New Delhi (India) June 26: After three cloudbursts in the districts of Kullu, Sench, and Rehla-Bihar, Himachal Pradesh is experiencing devastating flash floods. Six people are missing and two people have died.

Two deaths have been discovered in the Kangra district's Manuni Khad, and fifteen to twenty workers at a labour colony close to the Indira Priyadarshini Hydroelectric project site were suspected to have been washed away after the water level rose.

Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, Hemraj Bairwa said, "The bodies of two the workers swept away in Manuni Khad have been recovered while six workers are still missing. Rescue teams are also searching for a man who was seen running towards the forest in an attempt to save his life."

Officials claim that rain caused the project to be stopped and that workers were resting in makeshift shelters close to the site when floodwaters from Manuni Khad and neighbouring drains shifted towards the labour colony, carrying them away.

Search and rescue efforts have been conducted by teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local government, gram panchayat and revenue department.

Sudhir Sharma, a BJP MLA from Dharamsala, claimed on social media that the incident took away roughly 20 workers.

Cloudbursts caused flash floods in several areas of Kullu district, causing damage to numerous homes, a school building, shops, connecting roads and tiny bridges. According to officials, three people went missing.

According to Kullu ADC Ashwani Kumar, search efforts were in progress and flash floods were also reported from Manali and Banjar in the district.

In Banjar, flooding in the Hornagad area damaged a cowshed and land for agriculture, swept away a bridge, and caused water to enter a government school.

Banjar MLA Surinder Shauri said, “Heavy rains have been continuing since the morning. I received several calls saying rains have caused huge damage in Sainj, Tirthan and Gadsa. I would appeal to the people to stay away from the rivers and drains. I have asked the administration to take quick action as people are in trouble."

The Beas River broke across a section of the Manali-Chandigarh National Highway in spate, causing partial damage close to Manali. Vehicle traffic is still on.

Three different instances of cloudbursts were reported from Shilagarh in the Gadsa area of Kullu district and Jeeva Nallah and Rehla Bihal in Sainj.

Alarming videos showing the extent of the destruction brought about by four cloudburst episodes in the Kullu district, Banjar, Gadsa, Manikaran and Sainj were subsequently shared on social media.

Aadrika Tayal