32 missing after cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla

A cloudburst in Shimla's Rampur has left 32 people missing, according to the district administration. The disaster management authority received information about the cloudburst near a hydroelectric power project at Samej Khad early today.

Heavy rains last night caused the water levels of rivers and streams to rise, resulting in the dam of Power Project 1 in Malana bursting. This led to a heavy flood in the Parvati River, prompting an alert for people around Bhuntar.

#कुल्लु: बीते रात हुई भारी बारिश से नदी नालों का जलस्तर बढ़ने से मलाणा में पॉवर प्रोजेक्ट 1 का डैम फटा।

▫️डैम फटने से पार्वती नदी में आई भारी बाढ़ , भुंतर के आसपास लोगों के लिए अलर्ट किया जारी।#himachalnews #kulluflood #Landslide #cloudburst #Flashflood #malana pic.twitter.com/CPnoNDyHIP

— DD News Himachal (@DDNewsHimachal) August 1, 2024

Cloudburst in Shimla

District Disaster Management Authority officials reported being alerted about the cloudburst early this morning. A senior administrative officer stated, "Initial reports indicate that 19 people are missing from the affected region, with unconfirmed reports suggesting additional missing persons in Kullu, bringing the total to 32 so far. Due to road blockages, news of the incident was delayed, with the cloudburst occurring around 1 am on Thursday."

A disaster response team and top officials, including Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap and District Police Chief Sanjeev Gandhi, are coming. Mr. Kashyap stated, "About 30 people are missing due to the cloudburst." The cloudburst has disrupted road connectivity, forcing rescue teams to hike to the site.

#cloudburst at least 32 people have gone missing in a cloudburst at Samej Khad in Rampur, District Shimla last night. The toll of missing people can go up #himachalpradesh #shimla pic.twitter.com/mIxoIHl3D2

— saurabh prashar (@saurabhprashar2) August 1, 2024

Cloudbursts have also occurred in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi, about 125 km from Shimla. An order issued by Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan indicated that cloudbursts in Rajban village near Muhal Terang have caused road blockades and landslides.

"Under these circumstances, the movement of staff, school and college children, and trainees may not be safe," Devgan announced, ordering the closure of all educational institutions and vocational training centres in the Padhar subdivision.

The regional  India Meteorological Department Met office has issued an ‘orange’ alert for Thursday, warning of heavy to very heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning in isolated areas of Himachal Pradesh, with the forecast extending until August 6. The alert system uses four color codes: green (no action required), yellow (stay updated), orange (be prepared), and red (take immediate action).

Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi reported that the recent downpour has led to the closure of 48 roads and disrupted around 60 power schemes. The weather department has warned of potential landslides, flash floods, and damage to crops, structures, and houses in vulnerable regions, including Kullu, Solan, Sirmaur, Shimla, and Kinnaur.

Over the past 24 hours, Dharamshala received 127.6 mm of rainfall, Una recorded 60.2 mm, and Manali had 45 mm. Since the monsoon began on June 27, rain-related incidents have claimed 65 lives in the state, with losses estimated at Rs 433 crore according to the Emergency Operation Centre.

In terms of temperature, Kukumseri in Lahaul & Spiti recorded the lowest night temperature at 12.8 degrees Celsius, while Bhuntar in Kullu district experienced the highest day temperature at 36.2 degrees. These contrasting weather patterns underscore the varied impact of the monsoon season across different parts of Himachal Pradesh.

Uttarakhand 

The monsoon has severely impacted life in Uttarakhand. In Jakhanyali, Tehri Garhwal district, two people died and another was injured after a cloudburst. The deceased were Bhanu Prasad (50) and Anita Devi (45). A spokesperson from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) reported that three people were initially missing due to the cloudburst. "During the search, SDRF recovered two bodies and found an injured person in a 200-meter-deep ditch. He was brought out on a stretcher," the spokesperson said, according to an ANI report.

In Haridwar, two children died and nine others were injured when a dilapidated house collapsed after heavy rainfall. The victims were identified as Aas Mohammed (10) and Nagma (8). District Magistrate Dhiraj Singh Garbyal told ANI that three of the injured are in critical condition, while the others are hospitalized but out of danger. "This old house collapsed due to heavy rain," he explained.