Severe cloudbursts in the Himalayan states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have resulted in over a dozen fatalities since yesterday, with rescuers urgently searching for survivors in the mountainous regions. The two states face further rainfall today, raising concerns that additional showers may hinder ongoing rescue efforts.
In Uttarakhand, at least 13 bodies have been recovered, while 16 others remain missing. The state has been placed under an orange alert for heavy rain in Uttar Kashi district, which borders Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla. A yellow alert has been issued for the remaining 12 districts, indicating moderate rain is expected.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas yesterday, observing the widespread damage caused by the storms. Authorities have suspended the Kedarnath Yatra for at least three days due to significant road damage. As of last night, 450 people were rescued from the yatra route, bringing the total number of those rescued to 2,200. However, around 1,300 pilgrims remain stranded as roads were washed away by the cloudburst.
The Sonprayag-Gaurikund road is blocked, and rescue operations were halted due to a landslide in Sonprayag. Both Army and civil aviation helicopters have been deployed to assist in search and rescue operations.
In Himachal Pradesh, cloudbursts have struck the districts of Shimla, Mandi, and Kullu. The incidents have resulted in five deaths, and search operations have resumed this morning for 49 individuals reported missing. The state faces a challenging situation, with three national highways and 450 other roads currently closed.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who has been conducting high-level meetings to address the crisis, is scheduled to visit Rampur in Shimla today, where houses were swept away in the recent deluge. A red alert is in effect for the next 24 hours, and the state government has instructed officials in the affected areas to remain on high alert.
Additionally, rescue operations are ongoing in Malana, where several people are trapped in a tunnel following the cloudburst. The central government has assured full support to both states, with personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and the Army involved in the rescue efforts.