Himachal Pradesh Rains: Woman buried under debris due to flash flood in Lahaul-Spiti

Lahaul and Spiti (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 3 (ANI): A woman was swept away in a flash flood near Sangam Nalluh in Kaza, Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh amid heavy rainfall.

The District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC), in Lahaul and Spiti, also said that a vehicle had been buried under the debris after the flash flood.

According to HP-State Emergency Operation Centre, “A flash flood incident was reported near Sagnam Nalluh in Sub Division Spiti, District Lahaul and Spiti. In the incident, one woman was washed away and one vehicle was also buried under the debris.”

It further said that a rescue team comprising personnel from the IPC 17th Corps and local police was on the incident spot for rescue. Besides, an ambulance and a JCB were also deployed on the site.

Further details are still awaited.

Meanwhile, a total of six people have lost their lives and 47 are still missing after a cloudburst and following flash floods in the Kullu, Mandi and Shimla regions of Himachal Pradesh.

On Friday afternoon, the Himachal Pradesh State Emergency Operation Centre provided a situation report at the three affected places for the past 36 hours, which showed the summary of damage and loss on the intervening nights of July 31 and August 1.

According to the report, Mandi has witnessed the most casualties with five, followed by Kullu with one. Shimla has so far reported no casualties.

The report also mentioned that Shimla has the highest number of missing people so far, at 33, followed by Kullu at 9 and Mandi at 6.

A total of 55 people had been evacuated to relief camps and 25 people reported being stranded.

61 houses were fully damaged, as the report stated, with 42 houses being partially damaged. In both cases, the majority of the damage was seen at Kullu.

In the wake of the catastrophic incident, the state government, led by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, had earlier mobilised extensive rescue and relief efforts.

Addressing the media amidst ongoing rescue operations, Sukhu emphasised the gravity of the situation.

Later, on his visit to the affected areas, Sukhu said that 49 people were missing and four bodies had been recovered from the affected areas.

“We will provide all possible help and relief to victims of the disaster. 49 people are missing and 4 bodies have been recovered. Restoration work is underway,” he said.

The information about the cloud burst was received by the District Disaster Management Authority early Thursday morning, which took place near the hydropower project in Samej Khad in Jhakri, Rampur.

Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap said that as soon as the information about the incident was received, the NDRF team, SDRF team, police, and rescue team left for the site of the incident.