Himachal Pradesh: 9 Dead, 7 Missing After Flash Floods Trigger Havoc; Roads Blocked

Shimla: At least nine people were killed seven are reported to be missing in flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday. 

Seven people died in Lahaul-Spiti flash floods triggered by a cloudburst over Tozing Nullah in Udaipur, State Disaster Management Director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta said adding that two more people died in Chamba district.

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In Kullu district, four people, including a hydro project official and a Delhi tourist, are missing and feared dead.

In Lahaul-Spiti’s Udaipur, 12 labourers were washed in flash floods around 8 pm on Tuesday, Mokhta said. Seven bodies were recovered, two rescued with injuries and three are still missing, Mokhta added.

According to reports, four of the dead are from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi while one is from Reasi of Jammu and Kashmir. Two bodies are yet to be identified.

New agency PTI said that the dead have been identified as Sher Singh (62), Mehar Chand (50), Nirath Ram (42) and Room Singh (41), all from Mandi; and Mohamed Slaim of Kunderdhan in Reasi, J-K.

“A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had been requisitioned for rescuing the labourers trapped under the debris of the landslide.,” Lahaul-Spiti Deputy Commissioner Neeraj Kumar told PTI.

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In Lahaul-Spiti, several roads have been blocked and around 60 vehicles are stranded due to multiple landslides, officials informed. Many roads in parts of the state have been blocked due to landslides.

Even a car was damaged in a landslide at Vikas Nagar in Shimla city. The Shimla Meteorological Centre has issued a “red” weather warning.

Several people were evacuated from Lahaul-Spiti’s Darcha village after water levels rose in the Bhaga river following a heavy spell of rain. According to the Darcha police check-post, the water level in the river increased considerably due to the heavy rainfall, damaging three shops near the river bank.