A cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh has caused severe flooding, leading to one death and leaving at least 28 people missing. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) is leading a major search and rescue effort.
Late last night, a cloudburst struck the Samej Khad area in Rampur, Shimla district, causing sudden and intense flooding. Shimla Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap reported that 19 people went missing after this incident. Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, local police, and home guards are on the scene, and drones are being used to help locate the missing.
Another cloudburst occurred in Thaltukhod, Padhar subdivision, Mandi district. Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan confirmed that one body has been recovered and nine people are still missing.
#WATCH | Himachal Pradesh | The SDRF team at the spot in Shimla for the search and rescue operation where 36 people are missing and 2 bodies have been recovered so far after a cloudburst in the Samej Khad of Rampur area in Shimla district.
(Visual source – CMO) pic.twitter.com/WqF6vDk4Tx
— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2024
The floods have also damaged several houses. The district administration and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are working to assist those affected. Meanwhile, disturbing images from the region show the swollen Beas River surging through valleys and towns.