CLOUDBURST TRAGEDY IN HIMACHAL PRADESH, HEAVY RAIN POUNDS NORTHERN STATES

A devastating cloudburst in the Paonta Sahib region of Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district late Wednesday night resulted in severe flooding that destroyed multiple homes in Malagi Dadiyat village.

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A house belonging to a local Public Works Department employee, Kuldeep Singh, collapsed, trapping five family members. The victims have been identified as Kuldeep Singh, Jeeto Devi, Rajni Devi, Nitesh, and Deepika.

As of Thursday, rescue efforts have managed to recover the bodies of two, Kuldeep Singh (62) and Nitesh (10). However, the challenging conditions, with continuously flowing water and heavy debris, have hampered rescue operations.

An official noted that the swift sludge flow pushed the house over 20 metres before its collapse. 

Additionally, the deluge affected infrastructural connectivity. A significant segment of the National Highway-707, linking Poanta to Shallai, is now obstructed. The rising water level in the Giri river further complicated matters, limiting access for administrative and emergency personnel to reach the affected village.

To manage this emergency, the local administration is coordinating with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Meanwhile, since the onset of the monsoon, the state of Himachal Pradesh has witnessed the tragic loss of 234 lives in rain-related incidents and has suffered financial damages amounting to Rs 6,742 crore. Around 160 roads remain shut due to the adverse weather conditions.