At least 36 individuals are missing following a devastating cloudburst in Rampur, located in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla district.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday, has prompted a swift response from rescue teams mobilized for relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Shimla MeT Issues Orange Alert For Heavy Rainfall & Thunderstorms
The Meteorological (MeT) office in Shimla has issued an orange alert, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning in isolated areas of the state over the next 24 hours.
The alert underscores the urgent need for caution as weather conditions remain perilous.
In Kullu district, flash floods have wreaked havoc, causing significant damage to both public and private properties along the Beas and Parvati rivers.
The burst of a dam associated with a hydropower project in Malana on the Parvati River has exacerbated the situation.
In response, the Kullu administration has issued a warning, urging residents to avoid the river and nearby water channels.
Union Minister and BJP President J P Nadda has communicated with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to assess the situation and assure all necessary support from the Central government.
Nadda has also reached out to former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, directing BJP workers to participate actively in relief operations.
The weather office has also highlighted the risk of landslides and additional flash floods in the vulnerable regions of Kullu, Solan, Sirmaur, Shimla, and Kinnaur districts, intensifying the urgency for preventive measures and vigilance.
Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap confirmed that teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), local police, and other rescue units have been deployed to the affected areas to expedite rescue and relief efforts.
In light of the severe weather events, including three cloudbursts across the state, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has convened an emergency meeting at the secretariat. An official statement emphasized the state’s commitment to coordinating a comprehensive response to the disaster.
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