At least four persons are believed to have been washed away in the Parvati river after a cloudburst hit Chojh village in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district on Wednesday.
A woman drowned in the Malana river after a ‘flash flood’ at the Malana Hydroelectric Project site in Kullu’s Bhuntar. In Shimla’s Dhalli, a young woman died and two others were injured after rains triggered a landslip.
In Chojh village, the cloudburst occurred around 6 a.m., causing a huge inflow of water into the already swollen Parvati as heavy monsoon rain had lashed the region late in the night on Tuesday. “Four persons, who were reportedly washed away in the Parvati river, are still missing. Rescue teams are on the job,” Sudesh Kumar Mokhta, State Disaster Management Director, told The Hindu.
Mr. Mokhta said 30 employees were trapped in a building after a flash flood at the Malana Hydroelectric Project site on the Malana in Kullu’s Bhuntar. All of them were rescued by the local administration. “A woman drowned at the dam site,” he said.
Flash flood struck Murang village in Kinnaur district’s Thungi Khad, but no loss was reported, according to the State’s Emergency Operation Centre. Landslip was reported in Bilaspur town of the State.
With heavy rain lashing the region, the Kullu administration, anticipating landslips, flash floods and cloud bursts in the district, directed all the campsites adjoining river banks and in landslip-prone areas to be removed. Deputy Commissioner issued the order under Sections 30 and 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Also, all types of water sports-adventure activities, including rafting, kayaking, and zip lines across water bodies, have been banned.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur reviewed the preparedness to tackle emergency situations with Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of all districts through video conferencing.
The Chief Minister directed the officers to make foolproof arrangements for disaster management. He said adequate number of people and machinery should be deployed in areas prone to landslides and other disasters.
Mr. Thakur directed that appropriate steps be taken at camping sites situated on the banks of rivers in the State. He said Quick Reaction Teams and Emergency Operation Centres should be functional round-the-clock at the district and sub-division level for disaster management.
