Two people died while around 50 people have gone missing after a cloudburst in Samej Khad area of Rampur area in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh, said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The teams of State Disaster Response Force have been dispatched to the spot, said Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap.
The inclement weather condition has ravaged the hill state as the India Meteorological Department issued an 'orange' alert for heavy to very heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, in isolated places of all Himachal Pradesh districts, barring Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti, for Thursday.
The cloudburst took place at around 4:40 am and in which 50 people have been reported missing while two bodies have been recovered, said the Chief Minister, adding that he has spoken to Union Home minister Amit Shah.
Teams of State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force have reached the spot, he said.
"Heavy rain is expected in the next 36 hours," he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been closely monitoring the situation, reported ANI quoting sources as saying. He has asked top officials to ensure all possible assistance to the affected and the rescue operations are in full swing.
Apart from Shimla, cloudburst in Mandi and Kullu district also caused massive devastation damaging houses, schools, and hospitals. Schools and colleges in Mandi and Kullu have been closed, reported NDTV.
Mandi also reeled under cloudburst and an order issued by deputy commissioner Apoorv Devgan said cloudbursts in Rajban village near Muhal Terang has led to road blockades and landslides.
"Under these circumstances, movement of staff, school and college children, and trainees may not be safe and should be restricted," the Deputy Commissioner said, as per the NDTV report.
A building collapsed in Kullu which was washed away by swollen Parvati river while incessant rains in Manali increased water level in Beas river.