One body recovered today, heavy machinery being used to clear debris: Shimla DC on rescue operation in Rampur’s cloudburst

Rampur (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 4 (ANI): As rescue and search operations are underway in the areas affected by the cloudburst that occurred in Rampur’s Samej leaving at least 6 people dead, Shimla Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anupam Kashyap said that 36 people are missing after an incident and one body has been recovered on Sunday.

Anupam Kashyap said, “We completed a very extensive search operation and different forces were involved in it. We will be starting the stage second of the search operation by conducting searches under the debris of the collapsed homes, and shops. One body has been recovered in Suni and we are trying to identify him. More bodies are visible but rescue will start tomorrow morning again as silt is more in the water today. At the place where the major thrust occurred, we have installed heavy machinery. We have created a temporary bridge for ease of mobilisation.”

He further said that sniffer dogs were also being used.

“Some of the buildings have collapsed in lower areas. We are also distributing rations to affected families, and utensil kits have been provided. Rs 50,000 aid has been provided to the affected as an initial grant,” he added.

Shimla Superintendent of police (SP) Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi said that the search is being conducted in six places.

“We have located some bodies but a whirl has formed. We have retrieved one body. We are hopeful by tomorrow evening we will clear the debris in affected areas.

Different teams of NDRF, SDRF, CISF, ITBP, Indian Army, and district police are carrying out search and rescue operations in a coordinated manner,” he added.

Earlier Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the state of Himachal Pradesh has incurred an estimated loss of over Rs 700 crore in the aftermath of devastating floods and heavy rainfall since June 27.

He further said that some bodies have been recovered and 55 people are still missing, adding that the state government is closely monitoring the situation.

In the aftermath of devastating floods and heavy rainfall, Himachal Pradesh is reeling under an estimated loss exceeding 700 crore rupees. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu disclosed that the losses, incurred since June 27, 2024, encompass significant damage to infrastructure and other assets.

“The state has suffered a loss of around Rs 700 crore and 55 people are missing, some bodies have also been recovered. We have started relief work on a war footing. We pray to God to have mercy on Himachal Pradesh. We are closely monitoring the relief and search operations in the affected regions,” CM Sukhu told reporters on Sunday.