Himachal Pradesh: Several roads damaged due to cloud burst

Shimla: Several roads are damaged in the wake of cloud bursts and flash floods in Himachal Pradesh. 191 roads including 3 National Highways are closed due to landslides and rain, a total of 294 Electricity Supply schemes are disrupted and nearly 120 water supply schemes are hampered in the state. 47 people are still missing in various parts of the state including 36 missing in the Samej area In the Rampur Region of Shimla district. Rescue and search operations are continued in the region.
So far 6 people have died in the state, 47 are still missing, 11 have been safely evacuated and no one is stranded. A total of 60 houses have been completely damaged due to flash floods and cloud busts during the past 56 hours in the state. 35 houses have been partially damaged, 19 cow sheds also washed away, 5 Motorable bridges washed away, 9 pedestrian bridges also damaged, 10 shops, 4 schools,1 health infrastructure also damaged. A total of 16 vehicles and 3 Fish farms were also washed away. Over 400 people of NDRF, SDRF, Police, Home guard, ITBP, Army, CISF and others are deputed in rescue, search and relief operations.
SP Shimla, Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi said, "Search operation is continuing. This is a complicated search operation. The water flow has increased. So, all forces here - NDRF, SDRF, CISF, ITBP, Home Guards, and Police jawans are participating in this operation."
"Searching is being done via drones too. Army's radar has been brought, sniffer dogs will be used too today. Heavy machinery will be planted at a few locations..." he added.
As per IMD, the yellow alert will continue in the state during the next 72 hours. As per IMD, The Monsoon trough at mean sea level now passes through Bikaner, Jaipur, Satna, Center of Depression over north Jharkhand & neighbourhood, Bankura, Canning thence southeastwards to northeast Bay of Bengal.
Earlier today, CISF jawans recovered people's properties from their houses in cloudburst-affected Rampur's Samej.
CISF Head Constable Rajesh Kumar said, "We are recovering properties stuck in houses following the tragedy that occurred here two days back. The properties are being recovered from the houses safely. This team has been working since morning"
Due to heavy and incessant rain in several parts of the state Bandrol village was cut off from Kullu due to a landslide.
On Saturday morning, NH 5 was cleared and made functional for vehicular movements by using JCB machines following a landslide from the hill near Mukam Dattayar Truck Lay Bay. Long queues of vehicles were seen on the Kullu-Manali bypass road. Parts of the Kullu-Manali Highway washed away in the cloudburst on August 1. Restoration work is underway.
Special Secretary, Disaster Management DC Rana said, "Thursday's incident affected mainly the Samej area of Rampur, Bagipul area of Kullu and Paddar area of Mandi district. These three places were the epicentre of the cloudburst and immediately after getting the information, the specialised agencies responded to the situation. On Thursday, 53 people were found missing. As of Friday, around 6 bodies have been recovered and around 47 are missing. Many villages have been affected, people have been rendered homeless also. Our specialised agencies are on the spot and they are trying to search for the people who have not been traced."
The state government, led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has mobilized extensive rescue and relief efforts. The disaster, triggered by a cloud burst, has left a trail of destruction in its wake, particularly affecting regions around Manali.
Amidst the ongoing operation, Chief Minister Sukhu urged tourists to exercise caution. "While tourists are welcome, I urge them to refrain from visiting risky areas such as rivers and waterfalls for photography and selfies," he cautioned, stressing the importance of safety during this critical period.
Efforts to restore essential services, including water supply and other vital schemes disrupted by the calamity, are also underway.