Flashfloods in Kullu, 10 go missing in Nirmand, Shrikhand trek route

Abhinav Vashisht

Kullu, August 1
Ten persons are missing from the Shrikhand route and the Nirmand area after cloudbursts and incessant heavy rains since yesterday night wreaked havoc in various parts of Kullu. Two Nepalese labourers and five locals, are missing after a cloudburst in the Bagipul area of the Shrikhand Mahadev trek route.
Kullu Deputy Commissioner Torul S Raveesh said that one body found in Sutlej was identified as the victim amongst 5 missing persons of the same family from Bagipul. He said, “Nine houses and two bridges have been washed away on the Shrikhand route. A few persons were stranded in the area and the rescue teams were bringing them back to Jaon village and all are safe.”
Three persons of Samej village in Nirmand area were missing as around four houses were washed away due to flashfloods.
Four persons were stranded in a tunnel of Malana Hydel project-I and 29 employees of the power house were marooned on a hill after the barrage gave way due to a cloudburst upstream. The NDRF teams rescued 29 persons and reached outside the tunnel where four persons were stuck, but they could not be contacted as they had moved inside the tunnel. A few houses, two temples and arable land were washed away downstream due to the flooding of the Malana nullah.
Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sunder Singh Thakur said that eight families had been rendered homeless due to the disaster in Malana and NDRF and SDRF teams were carrying out relief and rescue operations.
A big building of vegetable marketing yard at Shaat village in Parbati valley was washed away due to flooding of Parbati river.
The Kullu-Manali national highway has been blocked as it again suffered massive damages at Raison and 15 Mile due to flooding of Beas. The NH has been damaged at a few other points as well. The traffic between Kullu and Manali is being diverted through the Left Bank from the Raison bridge.
There were reports of damages from Sainj valley due to flooding of Pin Parbati river. Some properties were also damaged in Brahm Ganga, Manikaran, Jia, Parla Bhuntar and Hathithan due to flood in Parbati. The road and electricity infrastructure was damaged at Nehru Kund near Manali.