CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: A cloudburst was reported in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla on Tuesday night. At least 20 people are missing in the Rampur area of Himachal’s capital city where the cloudburst reportedly occurred. The National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) was rushed to the spot along with Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), state police and local rescue units as massive loss was reported in the region, reports added.
Bordering Kullu and Shimla districts, Rampur is home to a hydroelectric power project. Authorities were alerted about the cloudburst in Samej Khad on Thursday morning as many buildings including a government school were damaged. There was a delay in communication as traffic was halted in the area. Authorities fear at least 10 more people are missing in the Kullu area, reports added.
Rescue efforts began as soon as the news of the calamity, which is believed to have happened around 1:00 am on Thursday, broke. ITBP and Special Home Guard joined the operations soon, Indian Express said in a report. Ambulance units are on standby at the site.
Meanwhile, another cloudburst in Mandi district claimed one life. The incident was reported in Thaltukhod of the Padhar subdivision where nine people are reportedly missing. Several houses and other structures were damaged here as well. The District administration said that rescue NDRF teams are on their way to ground zero.
“On the sad news of huge losses and disruption of life due to cloudburst in various areas of Himachal Pradesh, minister Jagat Prakash Nadda spoke to Himachal chief minister Sukhwinder Sukhu and assured all possible help from the central government. The BJP President JP Nadda also spoke to former CM and LoP in the Himachal assembly Jairam Thakur and the BJP State President and directed all BJP workers to engage in relief work,” a statement by Union health minister and BJP President JP Nadda reportedly said.
