Rescue Operations Hampered by Heavy Rains in Cloudburst-Hit Rampur

Relief efforts in Rampur's Samej village face severe challenges due to continuous heavy rains following a deadly cloudburst that claimed six lives. Blocked roads and inclement weather are hindering the progress of rescue teams.

A Relief and Rescue team operating in Rampur's Samej village, after the recent cloudburst incident that claimed at least six lives, has been facing difficulties in progressing as heavy rains continue in the region on Wednesday. According to Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Inspector Nanak Chand Sharma, the road caved in due to the heavy rain, blocking the rescue team from reaching their destination.

'The point where we have to go is 1-2 km away, but it is raining heavily, causing the road to cave in and making it very difficult for vehicles to move,' Inspector Nanak Chand Sharma stated. Rescue and relief operations have been underway in the flood-affected Samej village near Rampur since the catastrophic cloudburst that occurred on August 1, resulting in the loss of at least six lives.

Earlier, the government announced Rs 50,000 as immediate relief to the affected families, according to Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh. Commenting on the incident, Singh said, 'A cloudburst occurred 2-3 days back over the Shrikhand mountaintop. Due to this, areas in Rampur and Kullu have faced massive destruction.'

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also visited the area to assess the situation. He briefed the officials and stated that Bailey bridges are being set up at various locations. Previously, the Indian Army launched extensive Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations to aid the affected communities in Himachal Pradesh's Samej village.

According to the Indian Army, the road to the incident site was blocked due to a land shift approximately 2.5 kilometers short of the site, prompting troops to proceed on foot beyond the blockade. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)