Mandi- Heavy rains in Mandi district in the early hours of the morning caused havoc and caused extensive damage due to landslides and floods. Four people went missing in the incident, while two people have been rescued. Apart from this, there has been considerable damage to government and private property.
Five members of a family were buried under the debris after a landslide at a house in Baragta village of Boye panchayat of Nihri tehsil of Sundernagar sub-division. Meanwhile, the villagers immediately started rescue operations and safely pulled out two seriously injured persons. They have been immediately admitted to a nearby hospital, where they are undergoing treatment.
A joint rescue team of locals, police and disaster management personnel is searching for the remaining three persons, who are feared to be buried under the debris. The rescue operations are being hampered due to incessant rains and unstable soil conditions.
In another incident, flash floods in Dharampur market area late last night submerged the main bus stand and nearby shops. The floodwaters caused extensive damage to government and private property. Some buses of Himachal Road Transport Corporation and other vehicles parked in the area were swept away in the flood.
One person is reported missing in the flood incident. Goods and infrastructure have also been damaged due to flood water entering shops. According to initial estimates, the loss is worth several crores.
Deputy Commissioner Mandi Apoorva Devgan told PTI that three bodies have been recovered, while two people have been rescued. Officials said that the rains caused flooding in the Son and Bharand drains in Dharampur in Mandi district, due to which a bus stand, a workshop, pump house, shops and more than 20 buses were damaged.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Dharampur Joginder Patial confirmed the devastation. He said that one person is reported missing and the bus stand area has been badly damaged.
BJP leader from Dharampur Rajat Thakur also visited the affected areas and expressed deep concern over the devastation. He said, “Nature has inflicted deep wounds on the people of Dharampur. The estimated loss is in crores and immediate assistance is required for the affected families.”
Teams of the district administration along with local volunteers and the State Disaster Response Force are actively engaged in rescue and relief operations. The state government is expected to announce compensation and rehabilitation measures after a complete assessment of the damage.