Cloudburst tragedy in Himachal Pradesh, heavy rain pounds northern states

A devastating cloudburst in the Paonta Sahib region of Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district late Wednesday night resulted in severe flooding that destroyed multiple homes in Malagi Dadiyat village. A house belonging to a local Public Works Department employee, Kuldeep Singh, collapsed, trapping five family members. The victims have been identified as Kuldeep Singh, Jeeto Devi, Rajni Devi, Nitesh, and Deepika.
As of Thursday, rescue efforts have managed to recover the bodies of two, Kuldeep Singh (62) and Nitesh (10). However, the challenging conditions, with continuously flowing water and heavy debris, have hampered rescue operations.
An official noted that the swift sludge flow pushed the house over 20 metres before its collapse.
Additionally, the deluge affected infrastructural connectivity. A significant segment of the National Highway-707, linking Poanta to Shallai, is now obstructed. The rising water level in the Giri river further complicated matters, limiting access for administrative and emergency personnel to reach the affected village.
To manage this emergency, the local administration is coordinating with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Meanwhile, since the onset of the monsoon, the state of Himachal Pradesh has witnessed the tragic loss of 234 lives in rain-related incidents and has suffered financial damages amounting to Rs 6,742 crore. Around 160 roads remain shut due to the adverse weather conditions.
In a broader context, several regions in Northern India are grappling with the wrath of the monsoons. In Uttarakhand, the Chief Minister has been on high alert after separate rain-related incidents claimed nine lives over a 24-hour period. Additionally, in Punjab, following torrential rainfall between July 9 and 11, the state has reported losses exceeding Rs 1,300 crore. Addressing a different aspect of the monsoon’s impact, farmers in Hisar staged a protest demanding compensation for their rain-damaged crops, resulting in brief highway blockades.
The local meteorological department has issued a yellow warning predicting heavy rain and potential landslides in the region till August 15, urging residents to stay vigilant.
In a related development, tensions have risen between the Delhi and Haryana governments.

Key Highlights:

1. Sirmaur District Tragedy: After a cloudburst in the Poanta Sahib area of Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district, a house in Malagi Dadiyat village collapsed, leaving five family members trapped. Two bodies, identified as Kuldeep (62) and Nitish (10), have been recovered. The state emergency operation centre confirmed significant damage to properties.
2. Blocked Highways and Rising Rivers: The cloudburst also led to a section of the National Highway-707 being blocked, hindering officials from reaching the affected village. The water level of the Giri river rose alarmingly.
3. Himachal Pradesh Monsoon Toll: Since the onset of monsoon, 234 people have died in rain-related incidents and road accidents.
The state has incurred losses of around Rs 6,742 crore. Approximately 160 roads remain closed. A yellow weather warning has been issued.
4. Farmers’ Protest in Hisar: Farmers demanded compensation for crops destroyed by heavy rains. Their protest attempt to ‘gherao’ the Hisar mini-secretariat was halted by the police using barricades, dumpers, and buses.
5. Uttarakhand Rain Incidents: Nine individuals died in various rain-related incidents in Uttarakhand. Landslides at Gaurikund affected multiple families, with two siblings losing their lives. Two significant road accidents also occurred in the Pauri district, leading to multiple casualties.
6. Punjab Flood Damages: The Punjab government reported losses over Rs 1,300 crore due to recent floods. The state seeks relaxation in norms from a central inter-ministerial team to enhance disaster relief amounts. The proposal includes increasing the compensation for various damages.
7. Delhi-Haryana Flood Dispute: Delhi minister, Saurabh Bharadwaj, indicated that Haryana’s action against its irrigation department officials is an acknowledgment of its part in July’s unprecedented floods in Delhi. The Yamuna river had breached embankments after heavy rainfall, causing extensive damage. The Delhi government believes silt accumulation at the ITO barrage was a contributing factor.