Two persons were killed and 50 went missing in ??Rampur area of Shimla district, two bodies were recovered and eight people went missing in Mandi district, and two PWD bridges and 8-9 houses were washed away in Kullu district after the hill state of Himachal Pradesh was rocked by series of cloudbursts early on Thursday.

In response to the crisis, an SDRF and NFRF teams have reached or are being dispatched to the affected areas and the search and rescue operation is underway.

Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu held an emergency meeting to take a stock of search and rescue operations in areas affected by cloudburst and heavy rains.

Emerging out of the meeting, Sukhu said that cloudburst occurred in Mandi, Shimla and Kullu districts.

“Cloudburst occurred in Mandi, Shimla and Kullu districts today. Around 50 people are missing, 2 bodies have been recovered in Rampur. NDRF, SDRF, DCs and officials are present at the spot. We have instructed the officials to make all arrangements. We have also sought help from the army,” said the CM.

He also appealed to people to not go near canals and rivers and said that he will visit the affected spots once the weather clears up.

“The Air Force has been asked to be ready. The Union Home Minister has assured all possible help and said that two additional NDRF teams are being sent. BJP chief Nadda also called twice and said that Prime Minister Modi is also worried. I have also spoken to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and LoP Rahul Gandhi. I have said that the situation is under control, but roads and infrastructure have been damaged. Manali has lost connectivity…,” added the CM.

Kullu Deputy Commissioner Torul S Ravish said cloudburst took place at various places, but the most damage has been done in Nirmand block.

“Two PWD bridges were washed away… 8-9 houses were washed. Search operation is going on… SDRF team is present on the spot and relief and rescue work is going on… NDRF team has also been sent to rescue people…Buildings have been damaged. There is no report of any casualty so far…,” she Ravish added.

Confirming the news of cloudbursts earlier, Himachal Pradesh minister Jagat Singh Negi said, “So far 36 people have been reported missing in Samej area of ??Shimla district. Similarly, 8 people are missing in Tikken area of ??Mandi, 2 bodies have been recovered, 1 is injured.”

In the Kullu area, he said the barrage of the power project in Malana has been breached and people are also stranded there.

“The road connectivity is currently closed. The Chief Minister has called an emergency meeting… many bridges have been damaged…,” added the minister

Union Health Minister and BJP President JP Nadda has asked all BJP cadres to work toward the rescue and relief of people hit by cloudburst.

“On the sad news of huge losses and disruption of life due to cloudburst in various areas of Himachal Pradesh, Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda spoke to Himachal Chief Minister Sukhwinder Sukhu and assured all possible help from the central government. The BJP President JP Nadda also spoke to former CM and LoP in the Himachal assembly Jairam Thakur and the BJP State President and directed all BJP workers to engage in relief work,” said a statement from the Health Minister’s office.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke with Himachal CM Sukhu to assess the situation following a cloudburst that caused significant disruption in the Samej Khad area of the Rampur region in Shimla district.

He assured the Chief Minister of providing central assistance and the support of the National Disaster Response Force.

Leader of Opposition in Himachal Jairam Thakur expressed his sadness over the loss of life and property in Rajman village near Thaltukhod in Mandi district due to cloudburst and heavy rains last night.

“Many buildings and houses have been washed away and many people have gone missing in Samej, Bagipul areas under Nirmand. I stand with the affected families in this hour of grief. I also request the state government to ensure relief and rescue operations on a war footing at the sites of devastation caused by heavy rains in the entire state last night,” added Thakur.

Meanwhile, the regional Met office in Shimla has issued an ‘orange’ alert for heavy to very heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, in isolated places of all Himachal Pradesh districts, barring Kinnaur and Lahaul & Spiti, for Thursday.

A ‘yellow’ alert was also issued on Wednesday for heavy rain at isolated places from Friday. The wet spell in the state is predicted to last till August 6.

The Met office has four colour-coded warnings – green (no action needed), yellow (watch and stay updated), orange (be prepared) and red (take action).

With inputs from agencies

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Two cloudbursts in Himachal: 4 killed, 58 missing in Shimla’s ??Rampur and Mandi’s Tikken area