A powerful cloudburst struck near the Samej and Bagi bridges on Wednesday night, causing severe flooding and washing away 45 people near Shrikhand in Himachal Pradesh.

Rescue teams are actively working in the affected area. According to Baljinder Singh, Commandant of the 14th Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the teams were prepped for such emergencies this year to ensure swift response. Singh described the Samej cloudburst as a significant disaster, stating, "We had our NDRF teams deployed to remote locations in Himachal Pradesh to avoid any delays in rescue operations. This cloudburst is a major crisis."

By Thursday morning, 13 bodies had been recovered. Singh added, "We have located 13 bodies so far. Initially, four bodies were recovered, and we've since found nine more, though one person remains missing. We are committed to conducting thorough rescue operations."

On August 7, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported heavy rainfall across the state, with Joginder Nagar in the Mandi district receiving the most significant amount at 110 mm in 24 hours. Kuldeep Srivastava, head of IMD Himachal Pradesh, noted, "We recorded the highest rainfall in Joginder Nagar at 110 mm over the past 24 hours. Sirmaur district also experienced heavy rainfall. Other parts of the state saw moderate rainfall, with about 75% of areas receiving between 30 mm to 50 mm."

The IMD has issued an orange alert for the lower Himalayan districts, including Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Chamba, and Mandi.

Latest Updates:

Severe Rains in Uttarakhand Cause Ten Deaths, CM Dhami Oversees Rescue Operations

Temples in Nashik Submerge as Heavy Rains Cause Godavari River to Overflow

India to Record Above-Normal Rainfall in August and Sept: IMD Forecasts