Heart-wrenching tales continue to pour in from disaster-hit Himachal Pradesh where a series of cloudbursts recently wreaked havoc in Shimla, Kullu and Mandi districts in one single night.
Search teams came across the bodies of a mother and her three-month-old daughter in Rajban of Chauhar Valley. The two, Sonam (23) and her daughter Manvi, were found embracing each other as the mother probably tried to protect her infant from the raging elements till her last breath.
The recovery of these bodies descended Rajban into fresh grief as family members and villagers mourned the loss. Nephew Ajit Kumar performed the funeral rites for his aunt while the infant was buried in the soil.
The police have also recovered two mutilated bodies along Sutlej river in Dakoldh in Rampur. The identities and genders of these bodies remain unknown as these were mutilated beyond recognition. The DNA samples of 20 relatives of the missing persons have been collected for potential identification.
Of the 45 missing persons, 36 are still unaccounted for in Samej (Rampur in Shimla); five in Bagipul; two in Rajban (Mandi) and as many in Shrikhand (Kullu district). So far, eight bodies have been found in Rajban and two in Nirmand (Kullu). Rescue operations persist as the Army, NDRF, SDRF and the police personnel have been working tirelessly to locate the missing across six affected regions.
Search operations commenced early on Sunday morning, employing the aid of sniffer dogs. In Samej, four Pokelin machines were deployed and soldiers began their search at 7 am. Temporary culverts were constructed to assist in the search operations. Despite the efforts, the search for two more missing individuals continues.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu along with Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh visited the flood-affected areas, acknowledging the extensive damage to life and property.
