Dharamshala Flood Disaster: 20 Workers Feared Dead After Flash Flood Hits Hydel Project Site
Monsoon Rage in Himachal: 20 Missing After Flash Flood in Dharamshala
The monsoon season turned deadly in Himachal Pradesh so in a heartbreaking incident a sudden flash flood hit Manuoni Khad near the Indira Priyadarshini Hydel Project in Kangra district’s Dharamshala and swept away around 15 to 20 labourers. Most of them were staying or working near the project site. The incident happened on Wednesday afternoon after heavy rainfall overnight and in the morning.Two bodies have been found so far and more are feared missing or trapped in the fast river current.
Labourers Swept Away Without Warning
Eyewitnesses say the water level in the khad rose suddenly so the labourers did not get time to run. These workers were living in temporary sheds close to the river. Dharmendra who is from Chamba and works at the site said the weather was clear till around one in the afternoon and then the water came rushing down.
Parvez Mohammad another labourer said many people and one vehicle were carried away by the strong current and he saw a dead body pass near him while everyone nearby was panicking and screaming for help.
MLA Sudhir Sharma Confirms Incident
Dharamshala MLA Sudhir Sharma confirmed the incident on social media and said it is one of the most painful scenes the area has seen. He added that they are standing with the families of the victims and praying for peace and strength.
Hans Raj who is a BJP MLA from Chamba said two bodies have been recovered and the local authorities have started rescue operations with help from disaster teams and the police.
Himachal Records Heavy Rainfall
The region received continuous rain from Tuesday night to Wednesday afternoon so many rivers and streams overflowed. Palampur got 145 millimetres Jogindernagar received 113 and places like Nahan Baijnath and Paonta Sahib also had intense rainfall. This sudden increase in rain caused the rivers to rise quickly and triggered dangerous flash floods.
Kullu Faces Chaos: Cloudbursts in Four Locations
In another part of Himachal cloudbursts happened in Sainj Banjar Manali and Manikaran Valley in the Kullu district. A house in Sainj was washed away where a father a daughter and a woman died but the mother and son managed to survive. In Manali the Beas River turned violent and washed over bridges and roads so traffic was blocked in many areas.
Yellow Alert Issued by IMD
The India Meteorological Department issued a yellow alert for the next seven days so people have been warned to stay alert. As more rain is expected there is a chance of more floods and landslides and people are advised to avoid riverbanks and travel only when needed.
JP Nadda Offers Condolences
BJP national president JP Nadda said he is deeply saddened by the loss and that all BJP workers are helping the affected families. He also said prayers for peace and strength for those who lost their loved ones.
This tragedy shows how dangerous monsoon rains can be in the hills and how fast water levels can rise. Rescue work is still going on and the state is on high alert so people are asked to stay safe and follow the warnings.