Rescuers resume search for 34 still missing in Himachal rain havoc

Shimla: Rescue operations continued for the third consecutive day on Thursday in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, where 34 individuals remain missing after relentless rainfall and cloudbursts unleashed devastating landslides and flash floods.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast a moderate risk of flash floods across Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur, Shimla, Sirmaur, and Solan districts until Friday.

In a display of bravery and commitment, a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team on Wednesday carried a pregnant woman in a palanquin for miles through rain-soaked terrain and damaged roads to reach a hospital in Mandi’s Thunag area.

Tuesday’s deluge wreaked havoc, destroying 14 bridges, 148 homes, and two shops, and claiming 11 lives—mostly in Mandi. With more than 48 hours having passed since the disaster struck, hopes for locating the missing are fading.

According to the HP State Emergency Operation Centre, 157 people have taken shelter in five relief camps.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu visited Syathi village in the Laungani panchayat of Dharampur, Mandi, where he met survivors of a cloudburst, listened to their concerns, consoled grieving families, and assessed the progress of relief and rehabilitation work.

Each household has received Rs 1.70 lakh in financial assistance, along with essential supplies such as ration, tarpaulins, and other relief materials from the district administration.

Speaking to the affected families, the Chief Minister said the government stands firmly with all the affected and assured them of all possible assistance.

Recalling the frightening incident, villagers narrated their sorrows and said that the entire village was swept away all of a sudden, and they now do not have a place left to pitch even the tents for shelter.

“Many of us narrowly escaped death and were eyewitnesses to the horrifying incident,” a local resident told the Chief Minister.

(inputs from IANS)