Himachal weather: 36 members of six families disappear after cloudburst near Shimla, power project swept away too
A cloudburst hit Samej in Rampur sub-division of Shimla district in Himachal Pradesh on the intervening night of Wednesday (July 31, 2024) and Thursday, resulting in the disappearance of 36 members of six families.
The 6-MW Ascent hydropower project at Samej was also swept away in the flashflood. The incident occurred around 11 pm, causing significant damage at Ganvi village of the 15/20 area. No loss of life has been reported from Ganvi, but the cloudburst destroyed two to three houses, fields, orchards and a school building.
Shimla Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap and Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Gandhi have rushed to the affected areas while Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu convened an emergency meeting at the Secretariat.
A team of doctors from Rampur’s Khaneri Hospital, led by Rampur SDM Nishant Tomar, is also en route to the spot, navigating difficult terrain on foot due to road closures.
Rescue teams, including the NDRF, SDRF, police, ITBP and Special Home Guard contingent, are actively evacuating residents and providing immediate relief. An additional committee, chaired by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, has been formed to coordinate rescue efforts, involving various departments such as the police, Home Guard and fire brigade.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda expressed his condolences for the massive loss and assured all possible support from the central government. He discussed the situation with Chief Minister Sukhu, who briefed him on the state’s response and ongoing relief operations.
The tragic cloudburst has left the community reeling, as rescue teams work tirelessly to locate the missing and provide aid to the affected families. The government and emergency services are on high alert, committed to mitigating the impact of this natural disaster.
