Monsoon havoc-Delegates of GVMC stranded on NH-3, cloudburst in Baghi Nala, entire family gone missing

The furious South West Monsoon is wreaking havoc in the state, as National Highway -3 is closed at Mandi and Kullu. Due to it, a delegation of Greater Vishakhapatnam Municipal Corporation got stranded en route to Manali.

Information received here said that the Greater Vishakapatnam Municipal Corporation delegation had left for Manali last night but due to unprecedented rainfall, and traffic disruption at various places forced the guest to spend night on their vehicles. The delegation is on state visit from August 17 and was scheduled to arrive Manali early today. Greater Vishakapatnam Municipal Council Mayor G. Hari Venkata Kumari is heading the delegates. One counsellor told the agency they are safe but waiting for evecuation  as they have been stranded in landslide affected NH-3 near Mandi since last night. State diaster Management authority confirmed that heavy rains have caused widespread destruction in Mandi district on Friday night.

A flood caused by cloudburst in the Baghi Nala on the Mandi-Kataula-Parashar road in the district has wreaked havoc. An entire family has gone missing due to it. People engaged in relief and rescue operations have found the body of a girl child, while another five people are missing. Dozens of families have left their homes and spent the night in safe places after the cloudburst.

The bridge built on the drain has also been damaged. At the same time, floods of drains damaged dozens of shops and vehicles in Thunag Bazar, the home town of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. There has also been heavy destruction in Thunag Bazar.

Along with this, almost all the shops including many vehicles and houses, cowsheds (gaushalas, floor mills), gharats, vehicles and crops have been damaged in the old Kataula Gujjar settlement. Under the biggest accident, the entire family of late Lal Hussain, the star of Sandoa, Purana Kataula, 5 people are missing due to the floods, while the body of a girl child has been found about half a kilometer below the house. Pankaj Kumar, Himanshu and other locals of Purana Kataula continued to search for the missing family members, but the search operation was stopped due to heavy influx in the ravine. SDM Mandi Ritika Jindal said that efforts are on to send NDRF along with relief and rescue teams on the spot, but the road is closed at many places from Mandi to Kataula Baghi.

On the other hand, along with affected Kataula, the Mandi district has received extensive damage due to heavy rains overnight. The Balh valley has been submerged and there is a possibility of heavy damage as the Suketi ravine as is in full spate.

All the three NHs and dozens of roads in the district are closed due to landslides.

The fresh report arriving here said that in past 24 hrs , in 26 rain related incidents four people died and 15 are missing.One Cattle died and seven were missing, including (two cows and 07 Sheep). Flash flood and landslide damaged nine houses and one cow sheds . four vehicle were damaged , sux roads and ine bridge washed away in the rain fury.