Himachal Pradesh: At least two people were killed and over a dozen are feared missing after multiple cloudbursts triggered flash floods across Himachal Pradesh's Kangra and Kullu districts on Wednesday, June 26.
Several terrifying visuals from the region show vehicles, homes, and entire roads being swept away by strong muddy currents, even as search and rescue operations are underway.
Here are some visuals that surfaced on social media:
In Kullu, three separate cloudbursts were reported from Jeeva Nallah and Rehla Bihal in Sainj, and Shilagarh in Gadsa. Among those missing are three people who were trying to move their valuables to safety when they were swept away. As per reports, many houses and a school building were severely damaged, as well.
According to Kullu’s Additional Deputy Commissioner Ashwani Kumar, flash floods also hit Manali and Banjar, while the Brahma Ganga drain in Manikaran valley overflowed, reaching several homes and raising fears of further destruction.
BJP MLA Surender Shourie also described the situation as grim. “There has been heavy rainfall since the morning. Sainj, Tirthan, and Garsa Valley are facing losses due to heavy rainfall. There has been a cloudburst in Tirthan, and the roads are damaged. I am receiving information that a bridge has been swept away near Garsa,” he told reporters, requesting residents to avoid rivers and streams.
Bodies Found, Workers Missing In Kangra
Meanwhile in Kangra, two bodies have been recovered and nearly 10 more people remain missing. The victims were working at a small hydroelectric power project near Dharamshala when the flash floods hit.
“So far, we have recovered two bodies, and efforts are still going on to find the people who were swept away… We have asked the contractor for a detailed list of workers employed at the plant,” Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa told The Indian Express.
Authorities across Himachal have warned of continued danger as water levels in the Beas and Sutlej rivers rise. In Lahaul and Spiti, the Kaza-Samdoh route remains blocked due to landslides and overflowing drains.
