Cloudbursts, flash floods in Himachal: Rescue operations on to find missing, IAF airlifts relief material

Indian Express

6 days ago

Search and rescue operations are underway with drones and sniffer dogs being used to trace 28 people who went missing after cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides wreaked havoc in the Thunag, Gohar and Karsog subdivisions of Mandi district last week, officials said on Monday.
About 250 personnel from the National and State Disaster Response Forces, Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Home Guards, along with the administration and locals, are undertaking the search and rescue work. Besides, 20 teams are gathering information and distributing ration and medical kits in inaccessible areas, officials said.
So far, 1,538 ration kits have been distributed to the affected people and immediate relief of Rs 12.44 lakh has been provided. An additional Rs 5 lakh each is being sent to the Thunag and Janjheli areas, they added.
The Indian Air Force airlifted nearly 130 boxes of relief material to the remote and badly affected Janjehli region of Mandi on Monday. These consignments included 249 tarpaulins, 170 blankets, packets of powdered milk, biscuits, ready-to-eat food, spices, and other necessities. The air drops, coordinated by the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), were critical in reaching villages cut off due to landslides and washed-away roads.
Meanwhile, in Karsog sub-division, where the calamity has caused severe damage to infrastructure and livelihoods, SDM Gaurav Mahajan announced the launch of a special Sub-Division Disaster Relief Fund. Mahajan urged NGOs, philanthropists, and citizens to support those in distress. Contributions can be made to the account name: Sub-Division Disaster Relief Fund Karsog, with account number being — 50100605031091, and IFSC — HDFC0008106.
According to information, 14 people were dead and 28 people are still missing from the various cloudbursts in Mandi. About 225 houses, seven shops, 243 cattle sheds, 31 vehicles, 14 bridges and several roads were damaged in the disaster. A total of 215 cattle have perished, while 494 people have been rescued, as per the latest report.
As many as 170 roads including one National Highway, 155 division electricity lines along with 158 water supply schemes were disrupted in Mandi. Till Sunday evening, 243 roads were closed in the state.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) (Mandi) and DDMA Chairperson, Apoorv Devgan, visited the affected villages of Kuthah and Pandav Shila in Dharjaul Gram Panchayat on Monday. He assessed the situation, reviewed ongoing relief efforts, and assured residents that the administration is committed to reaching every affected family. He also convened a multi-departmental meeting in Janjehli to fine-tune the rehabilitation measures already underway.
Alongside relief distribution, restoration of critical services has become the administration's top priority. The Jal Shakti Department has deployed nearly 2,000 personnel across Mandi to restore disrupted drinking water schemes. As of 7 July, 588 out of 790 affected schemes have been successfully revived. In the worst-hit Seraj Assembly segment, 132 out of 241 damaged water schemes have been temporarily restored.
According to the district administration, 81 Gram Panchayats were impacted by water supply disruptions. Full supply has been restored in 15 panchayats, and partial restoration has been achieved in another 48. Work is ongoing in the remaining 18 panchayats, with hopes of resumption in the coming days.
The DC lauded the cooperation of local villagers, many of whom voluntarily assisted the Jal Shakti teams by clearing debris and helping reconnect pipelines. Regular ground inspections are being conducted by departmental officers to monitor progress and ensure that clean drinking water is made available to every village as soon as possible.
Efforts are also underway to restore electricity and road connectivity, which remain disrupted in many areas. 'The administration is working around the clock to normalise public life. We request the public to remain calm and cooperate. Relief will reach every affected person, and all essential services will be restored at the earliest,' Devgan said.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri visited the disaster-affected Seraj Valley in Mandi to review the ongoing relief and restoration works following the recent devastating floods. He assured all possible assistance to the affected families and reaffirmed the government's commitment to restoring normalcy at the earliest.
He said the natural calamity had caused widespread disruption and extensive damage to vital infrastructure, especially drinking water supply schemes. Nearly 241 water supply projects had been damaged in the region, including the largest scheme worth Rs 121 crore in the Seraj and Balichowki areas under the Jal Shakti department. The department has estimated losses exceeding Rs 100 crore in Seraj constituency alone.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that senior officials had reached the remote and challenging areas to expedite the restoration work. So far, around 140 water schemes had been partially restored and work on the remaining was progressing on a war footing, Agnihotri added.