Search and rescue operations are underway in the flood-affected Samej village near Rampur in Shimla district, following devastating cloudbursts across various regions of Himachal Pradesh. The recent catastrophic cloudburst has caused extensive damage throughout Himachal Pradesh, impacting several areas of the hill station, including Samej village.
Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh stated on Saturday that approximately 50 people are feared dead in the affected areas, with the official number to be confirmed only after the completion of rescue operations. Singh emphasised that the state’s top priority is to recover the bodies and restore connectivity in the impacted regions as quickly as possible. He also announced an immediate relief of Rs 50,000 for the affected families, with additional compensation to be provided in the future. Additionally, he noted that rescue efforts involve the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and Home Guard personnel working together.
Singh said, “A cloudburst occurred 2-3 days back over the Shrikhand mountain top. Due to this, areas in Rampur and Kullu have faced massive destruction. CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also visited the area. He took stock of the situation and briefed the officials. We have started setting up Bailey bridges at various locations. Police personnel are being deployed at various places. The administration is coordinating with everyone. NDRF, SDRF, State Police, and Home Guard jawans are carrying out rescue operations together.”
Earlier, the Indian Army initiated comprehensive Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations to support the communities affected in Samej village. The army reported that access to the incident site was obstructed by a landslide about 2.5 kilometers from the location, prompting troops to proceed on foot past the blockage.
The army’s Engineer Task Force (ETF) repaired and reopened the road on Friday. Although the equipment was initially held up at the blockade, it was able to reach the incident site once the road was fixed. Additionally, on Friday, the army completed building an improvised footbridge, which allowed rescue teams to reach the far side of the river and help civilians who were stranded there.