Heavy rainfall and cloudbursts have disrupted life in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. So far, 37 people have died. The Meteorological Department has issued a heavy rainfall alert until July 7th.
Himachal Flood: Torrential rains and cloudburst incidents have caused devastation in Himachal Pradesh. The situation is worst in the Mandi district. So far, 37 people have died and damage exceeding 400 crore rupees has occurred. Many houses have been washed away, roads are blocked, and electricity and water supply have been disrupted. The Meteorological Department has issued a heavy rainfall alert until July 7th.
Scene of devastation in Himachal
Heavy rainfall has been occurring in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh for the past 24 hours. Cloudbursts during this period have further worsened the situation. According to local residents, the water flow was so rapid that many houses, vehicles, and shops were washed away. Normal life has been completely disrupted. People are forced to take shelter in the homes of their relatives.
According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) report, 37 people have lost their lives so far, and property damage exceeds 400 crore rupees.
Heavy rainfall alert issued until July 7th
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for continuous heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh until July 7th. This could make the next three days extremely challenging. The local administration has been put on alert. People have been appealed to avoid unnecessary travel and stay in safe places. Special Secretary (Revenue and Disaster Management) DC Rana said that the actual assessment of the damage will be done later, but relief and rescue operations are the priority for now.
Mandi district most affected
The Thunag sub-division of Mandi is the most affected by this natural disaster. The contact of many villages here has been cut off from the main roads. The local administration, police, Home Guards, SDRF, and NDRF teams are engaged in rescue operations. Electricity and water supply are almost completely shut down. PWD engineers are engaged in road repair, while officers from the Jal Shakti Department and the Electricity Board are present at the spot.
Roads, transformers, and water schemes affected
More than 250 roads are closed across the state. More than 500 electricity transformers have been shut down, and around 700 water supply schemes are affected. The districts of Mandi, Kullu, Chamba, Kangra, and Shimla have been the most affected. The state government has issued special instructions to the districts for relief work and relief camps have been started in the affected areas.
26 additional deaths from road accidents
While 37 people have died in rain-related incidents, 26 more deaths have been confirmed in road accidents caused by heavy rain and landslides. Many people are still missing. Rescue teams are continuously conducting search operations, but relief operations are being delayed in many places due to landslides and broken roads.
DC Rana attributed this disaster to climate change and global warming. He said that Himachal is now also facing the serious effects of climate imbalance.
