The death toll from cloudbursts and flash flood-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh`s Mandi district has climbed to 10, following the recovery of five additional bodies. Search operations for 34 missing individuals are currently underway, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The state experienced 11 cloudburst incidents, four flash floods, and one major landslide on Tuesday, with most occurrences in Mandi district, significantly disrupting normal life.
Cloudbursts were reported at four locations in Gohar, three in Karsog, two in Dharampur, and one in Thunag, all within Mandi, according to PTI.
Officials reported that two bodies were recovered in Siyanj, Gohar, and one each in Thunag, Dhar Jarol, and Pandeev Sheel areas; the identities of the deceased have not yet been disclosed.
While on Tuesday, two deaths were recorded in Bada and one in Talwara, both in Gohar; one person died in Old Bazaar, Karsog; and one body was recovered at Neri-Kotla in Jogindernagar.
A total of 282 roads were closed across the state due to heavy rains, and 1361 transformers and 639 water supply schemes were disrupted. Mandi bore the brunt of the damage, with 182 roads blocked, 633 transformers, and 465 water schemes affected as of Wednesday morning, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC). Additionally, the SEOC reported that 24 houses, 12 cattle sheds, one bridge, and several roads were damaged, 30 cattle perished, while a total of 370 people, including 316 in Mandi, have been rescued, with 11 still stranded, reported PTI.
Two teams each from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), alongside police and home guards, are actively involved in search and rescue operations in the district.
Meanwhile, light to moderate rainfall persists in various regions of the state. Kasauli received 55 mm of rain since the previous evening, followed by Baggi with 54.8 mm, Dharampur with 38.8 mm, Mandi with 36.8 mm, Sarahan with 32 mm, Solan with 27.4 mm, Pandoh with 27 mm, Jubbarhatti with 26.2 mm, and Shimla with 24.2 mm, according to PTI.
The Met Office has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rains in isolated areas across the state from Friday to Sunday.
(With inputs from PTI)