Himachal Pradesh: Dozens feared dead due to floods and landslides

Dozens of people are feared dead after heavy rains, flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides hit the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

According to local authorities, search operations with drones are underway to find about 30 people who are missing after a cloudburst and subsequent landslides devastated the state’s Kangra, Chamba, Shimla and Mandi districts.

Hundreds of houses, shops, roads and bridges have been washed away in Himachal Pradesh in 23 flash floods and 16 landslides due to severe weather conditions since last week.

Dozens of people have died in about 19 cloudbursts since last week, officials said.
According to the State Disaster Management Authority, at least 80 people have lost their lives in various rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh since June 20.

The India Meteorological Department has predicted more heavy rains in several districts of the state, raising fears of more floods and landslides. A ‘yellow warning’ of heavy rain has been issued in some areas of the state till July 10.
The worst-hit district was Mandi, where 10 cloudbursts in a single day last week caused widespread destruction and nearly 14 deaths. Kangana Ranaut, the MP from the constituency and Bollywood actress-turned-politician, courted controversy during a visit to the affected areas by saying that she had “no funds for disaster relief and no cabinet post.”