Monsoon Mayhem: 21 Dead, 6 Missing In Himachal Flash Floods. Cloudburst Kills 4 In Uttarakhand — Key Updates

Routine lives of people took a toll in both the states as water and mud inundated houses and shops and main highways were blocked or shut.

New Delhi: Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand bore the brunt of monsoon rains on Saturday as heavy rainfall, landslides and cloudburst hit several parts of both the states. At least 21 people have died while 12 were injured and 6 went missing after flash floods in Himachal Pradesh whereas 4 people were killed in a cloudburst in Uttarakhand with 10 persons reported missing, news agnecy ANI reported.

Routine lives of people took a toll in both the states as water and mud inundated houses and shops and main highways were blocked or shut. National Highway 5 in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district was closed due to a landslide, whereas Rishikesh-Badrinath and Rishikesh-Gangotri Highways were blocked at several points in Uttarakhand. 

Flash Floods In Himachal Pradesh

At least 21 people were reported dead with 12 injured and 6 missing in incidents of landslide, flash flood and cloud burst triggered by heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh in the past 24 hours, State Disaster Management Department Director Sudesh Kumar Mokhta said on Saturday. 

The maximum damage has been reported from Mandi, Kangra, and Chamba districts, Mokhta told news agency PTI adding that 34 weather-related incidents have been reported so far from the state. 

A number of roads have been blocked for traffic, he said. 

In view of the incessant rains, school remained closed on Saturday, said Deputy Commissioner Arindam Chaudhary. 

In view of incessant rain in Mandi for the past more than two days and weather forecast of heavy rainfall in next 24 hours, it has been decided that all government and private educational institutions (except colleges and ITI) will remain closed on August 20, he said in the order issued on Friday evening.

All anganwadis will also remain closed, he said.

Cloudburst Hit Several Parts Of Uttarakhand 

Series of cloudburst hit several districts of Uttarakhand early on Saturday claiming four lives while 10 people have been reported missing as rivers breached their banks and washed away bridges, officials said.

Torrential rains damaged two houses in Gwad village in Tehri district trapping seven people under the debris. Two bodies have been recovered from under the rubble, Tehri District Magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar said.

As per a PTI report, 13 villages in Pauri district were affected by the excessive rains prompting the administration to close all Anganwadi centres and schools.

A cloudburst occurred around 2.15 am in Sarkhet village in the Raipur area, they said, adding a bridge over the Song river near Thano got washed away while the Kempty Falls, a popular tourist spot near Mussoorie, was also flowing dangerously.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the affected areas near Thano and instructed officials to make arrangements for restoring vehicular movement.

"The administration is fully alert. Disaster relief teams are already at work in the affected areas. The Army's help may also be taken if needed," he said. Dhami was accompanied by Raipur MLA Umesh Sharma Kau and Garhwal commissioner Sushil Kumar.

Dhanolti Sub-Divisional Magistrate Lakshmi Raj Chauhan said that the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway is blocked at Totaghati, the Rishikesh-Gangotri highway is blocked at Nagni and the Narendranagar-Ranipokhari road is blocked at several points.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)