NEW DELHI — A devastating flash flood, following heavy rainfall, has resulted in the death of three individuals and left more than a dozen missing in the Himachal Pradesh region of northern India, according to reports from local authorities on Thursday.
In response to the event, a significant rescue effort has been initiated. Dinesh Sharma, a representative of the local government in Kangra, relayed the urgent measures being taken to locate those unaccounted for. Kangra is situated approximately 18 kilometers (11 miles) away from Dharamshala, a well-known tourist spot renowned for its Tibetan heritage and as the residence of the Dalai Lama.
Sudhir Sharma, a Dharamshala legislator, stated in a post on social media that a significant number of workers, estimated between 15 and 20, were caught in the flood. They were stationed in a temporary shelter close to an ongoing hydroelectric power project when the water level in a nearby reservoir surged unexpectedly late on Wednesday.
The state government released a report on Thursday detailing the situation, confirming that at least eight individuals are missing in Kangra and an additional three are unaccounted for in the nearby region of Kullu. Authorities have successfully evacuated approximately 50 tourists who were stranded due to the flooding, moving them to safer locations within the state.
The report further acknowledged the casualties, confirming that three people have perished, although further specifics were not provided by the officials.
Flash floods and cloudbursts are frequent occurrences in the hilly terrains of India, such as Himachal Pradesh, especially during the monsoon season. The ongoing deforestation, largely attributed to infrastructure development and expansion of hydropower projects, has spurred ongoing debates regarding the necessity for increased environmental accountability and enhanced disaster preparedness to safeguard such vulnerable regions.