More than 50 people are reportedly missing in Rampur tehsil of Shimla, Padhar tehsil of Mandi district and Jaon, Nirmand villages of Kullu in Himachal Pradesh in the tragic incident of cloudburst on the night of 31st July 2024.

Speaking to media persons, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu informed that while over 50 are missing, two bodies have been recovered. He said that the water level of the rivers has increased due to cloudburst causing a flood situation in the rivers and streams and urged all residents of the state are requested to avoid going near the rivers and streams.

Sukhu also said that teams of NDRF, SDRF, Home Guard and Fire Services are engaged in relief, search and rescue work and help has also been sought from the Army.

An emergency meeting was being held on Thursday with officials at the Secretariat at Shimla where the local administrations were instructed to carry out relief and rescue operations smoothly. The Chief Minister said that he is in touch with the officials and monitoring the relief and rescue operations and assured that the state government is committed to provide all possible assistance.

Further, the Himachal Chief Minister informed that he had telephonic conversations with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda Ji, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi and that all have also assured all possible help to the state at this tragic hour.

Meanwhile, in a post on X, the Union Home Minister expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and wish for the speedy recovery of the injured. He said that he had spoken to the Chief Minister and enquired about the situation. NDRF and local administration are engaged in relief and rescue work, he added.

The Congress Party too conveyed its condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the safe return of the missing people as soon as possible. It also requested all Congress members to provide all possible help to the victims in this difficult time.