Flood Alert in 5 Districts

At least 13 people have died and 29 remain missing in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district following a series of cloudbursts and flash floods since Monday night, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC).

- Shailee Dogra

MANDI: Eight bodies were found on Wednesday. According to the SEOC's report, the state experienced 16 cloudbursts and three flash floods, mostly concentrated in Mandi, causing widespread devastation. Mandi was the epicentre of the monsoon since June 30. As many as 154 people were rescued, officials said.

A search and rescue operation is on for which the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force have also been deployed. One death has been reported from Thunag village, two each from Dhar Jarol, Kelti, Jogindernagar's Neri Kolta, Siyanj and Bada, one from Karsog's Purana Bazaar and Parwana/Talwara.

The district administration has directed residents to stay away from rivers as spillway gates of the Koldam hydropower station have been opened that has led to an increase in the Sutlej river level.

Nine affected families of Kuklah village said that they saw their homes, belongings and lifelong earnings washed away before their eyes. They said that they could not even take out their belongings, somehow ran away with the children.