Death toll rises to 23 as Himalayan cloudbursts trigger floods and landslides

More than 23 individuals, including 15 in Uttarakhand and eight in Himachal Pradesh, have lost their lives due to severe cloudbursts and landslides across these Himalayan states.

The devastation has prompted intensified rescue operations, with authorities working tirelessly to locate survivors amid forecasts of additional heavy rainfall in the region over the next few days.

In Himachal Pradesh, with recent recoveries of three bodies, eight people have been confirmed dead. The cloudbursts, which occurred on Aug 1, caused devastating flash floods in several areas, including Nirmand, Sainj, and Malana in Kullu, Padhar in Mandi, and Rampur subdivision in Shimla.

Rescuers are still trying to find 45 people who have gone missing. The relentless floodwaters and landslides have left many areas isolated, prompting the use of drones by rescuers to access these hard-hit locations.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed Chinook and MI17 helicopters to assist in the evacuation of 800 pilgrims stranded on the dangerous trek to Kedarnath. These evacuations are dependent on favorable weather conditions and are expected to take place on Aug 3.

The emergency situation in Himachal Pradesh has seen substantial infrastructural damage. According to the state emergency operations center, 103 houses have suffered significant damage, either fully or partially, across the three affected districts.

Additionally, six motorable bridges and 32 footbridges have been compromised, along with various shops, schools, and vehicles.

In response to the crisis, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu announced immediate relief measures. The state government will provide ₹50,000 in initial aid to the victims.

Furthermore, an additional ₹5,000 per month will be given to affected individuals for rent over the next three months, along with provisions for gas, food, and other essential supplies.

The Meteorological Centre in Shimla has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning affecting ten districts of Himachal Pradesh, valid until August 6.

The department has warned of possible landslides and flash floods in vulnerable areas, potential damage to crops and houses from strong winds, and waterlogging in low-lying regions.

The severe weather conditions have caused significant disruptions to transportation infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh. A total of 115 roads have been closed to vehicular traffic, with specific closures affecting 46 roads in Mandi, 38 in Kullu, 15 in Shimla, six each in Kangra and Sirmaur, three in Kinnaur, and one in Lahaul and Spiti.

Additionally, 225 transformers and 111 water supply schemes have been impacted.

Rohan Chand Thakur, the Managing Director of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC), said that bus services have been suspended on 82 of its 3,612 routes due to the adverse weather.

Eight school children from Rampur Samej village in Himachal Pradesh are missing. According to the school principal, the missing children include seven girls and one boy. These students were local residents and badminton and volleyball players.

In Uttarakhand, cloudbursts have resulted in the deaths of 15 people across various districts, including Kedarnath, Tehri, Chamoli, Dehradun, and Haridwar. In response to the crisis, 7,234 pilgrims have been rescued from the treacherous route to Kedarnath.

Rescue operations are set to resume as soon as weather conditions improve, with plans to evacuate over 800 stranded pilgrims from Kedarnath through both aerial and manual means on Aug 3.

The IAF has been called into action, deploying Chinook and MI17 helicopters, while teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Uttarakhand Police are actively engaging in rescue and search operations.

Authorities have ensured that food and water are provided to the stranded pilgrims, who are being sheltered in relief camps located in Kedarnath, Bheembali, and Gaurikund posts.

The death toll in Uttarakhand increased to 15 after one person drowned in an overflowing river in Dehradun on Aug 2 and another body was recovered from Rudraprayag.

Since July 31, the region has faced significant infrastructure disruptions, with over 300 roads blocked, including national highway 21, which connects Manali to Chandigarh.

Restoration efforts are ongoing, with 191 road closures still pending. A massive operation involving 340 JCBs and Pokland machines is underway to clear the blocked routes and restore connectivity.

The impact on housing has been severe, with a total of 712 houses partially damaged by cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides. Of these, 146 houses have been severely damaged, and 14 have been completely destroyed.

The alerts have been issued for heavy rainfall in Chamoli and Bageshwar districts, and intense rainfall is expected in Nainital, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar districts on Aug 3.

The continued adverse weather poses ongoing challenges for rescue operations and recovery efforts in both Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and preparing for further interventions as needed.