The world outside is a muddy, monstrous maw. Yesterday, it swallowed our village whole. We huddled together in the temple, a tiny island in a sea of despair. Bhagwati Kali Mata temple, our protector, was the only light in that endless night there, “a Rampur resident said.”
Shimla: A recent cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh has wiped out an entire village in Shimla, leaving residents in shock. Anita Devi, a survivor from Samej, described the terrifying moment when their home was jolted awake by a deafening crash. Upon emerging, they found their village submerged, forcing them to seek refuge in the Bhagwati Kali Mata temple and spent the entire night there. Anita continued, “The devastation was total. Only our house remains. I watched as everything else disappeared. I have no idea where to go from here.”
Bakshi Ram, an elderly villager, is grappling with unimaginable loss. His entire family, approximately 14 to 15 people, were swept away by the flood waters. Miraculously spared as he was in Rampur when the disaster struck at 2 a.m., he returned to Samej at 4 a.m. to find his world shattered. Now, he is desperately searching for his loved ones, hoping that someone is still alive.
A total of 53 people are still missing and six bodies were recovered so far as on Saturday after a cloudburst followed by flashfloods wreaked widespread destruction in Kulu, Mandi and Shimla regions of Himachal Pradesh, as per the District Disaster Management Authority.
DDMA Special Secretary DC Rana reported that extensive flood damage has Occurred, with over 60 homes lost and several villages suffering severe consequences. The road linking Rampur and Samej, damaged by recent cloudburst and flash floods cut off Samej.
Himachal CM Vows Full-Scale Rescue Efforts amid Devastation in Shimla:
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has stated that rescue and relief operations are underway in full force following a recent disasters. He plans to visit the area with the highest number of missing person and has emphasized the importance of daylight for efficient rescue efforts. With 49 people currently unaccounted for, the focus is on rescuing those trapped and recovering bodies from the debris. Sukhu has urged tourists to avoid dangerous areas like waterfalls and rivers.
