A cloudburst in Shimla’s Rampur has left 20 people missing, according to the district administration. The disaster management authority reported that the cloudburst occurred near a hydroelectric power project at Samej Khad early today.
Disaster response teams have been dispatched to the site, with Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap and district police chief Sanjeev Gandhi en route. Kashyap confirmed, “According to the information we received, about 20 people are missing from the area affected by the cloudburst.”
The cloudburst has disrupted road connectivity, forcing rescue teams to hike to the affected area.
In Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi, about 125 km from Shimla, cloudbursts have also been reported. Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan issued an order noting that cloudbursts in Rajban village near Muhal Terang have led to road blockades and landslides. Devgan announced the closure of all educational institutions and vocational training centers in the Padhar subdivision due to safety concerns.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Uttarakhand is also grappling with severe monsoon impacts. In Tehri Garhwal district’s Jakhanyali, a cloudburst claimed the lives of Bhanu Prasad (50) and Anita Devi (45), and left one person injured. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) reported three people missing due to the cloudburst last night. Two bodies were recovered, and an injured individual was found in a 200-meter-deep ditch and rescued.
In Haridwar, heavy rainfall caused the roof of a dilapidated house to collapse, resulting in the deaths of Aas Mohammed (10) and Nagma (8), and injuring nine others. District Magistrate Dhiraj Singh Garbyal stated that three of the injured are in critical condition, while the remaining are hospitalised but out of danger. He noted that the house was in poor condition, and the heavy rain caused its collapse.
The ongoing monsoon fury continues to wreak havoc, affecting normal life and causing significant damage and casualties in both states.
