Search Operations Intensify As Himachal Pradesh Recovers More Bodies Amid Flash Flood Crisis; Orange Alert Issued for Heavy Rains

As search operations continue in Himachal Pradesh, five more bodies were recovered along the Satluj river in the Rampur area of Shimla district on Friday. These efforts are part of the ongoing response to the devastating flash floods that struck the region on August 1, triggered by cloudbursts that wreaked havoc across several districts, including Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla.

The discovery of these additional bodies brings the total number of recovered victims in Samej village to 15. Tragically, 33 residents from Samej went missing in the flash floods, and 18 are still unaccounted for, leaving the community in a state of continued anxiety and mourning.

Search teams, which have been working tirelessly since the disaster struck, recovered four bodies near the Doghri area close to the Sunni dam, while the fifth body was found in the village of Nogli. Among the victims identified is Kalpna Kumari, a worker at the hydro project in Samej village, who, along with her two children, was swept away by the floodwaters on August 1.

A Shimla district administration official emphasized that search operations would persist until all the missing individuals were located. The ongoing search efforts are not limited to Samej village; teams are also combing through the Terang village in Mandi district, where nine bodies have been recovered so far, and in the Bagipul area of Kullu district, where the devastation was similarly severe.

The heavy rains have not only caused loss of life but have also disrupted infrastructure across the state. Over 100 roads remained impassable on Friday, with the highest number of closures reported in Mandi district, where 60 roads are still blocked.

In the midst of these ongoing challenges, the Meteorological Centre in Shimla has issued an orange alert, warning of heavy rains expected on Saturday across several districts, including Una, Kangra, Sirmaur, Hamirpur, and Mandi. According to meteorological forecasts, these areas are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall, further complicating the search and rescue operations.

The state has been experiencing higher-than-average rainfall, with Himachal Pradesh recording 14.2 mm of rain on Friday—39% higher than the normal 10.2 mm. Since July 1, the state has accumulated 94.7 mm of rainfall, which is 7% above the normal average of 88.7 mm.

Also read: Severe Cloudbursts in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh Claim Over a Dozen Lives; Rescue Operations Intensify