Ten people were stuck in Koaldam in Himachal Pradesh’s Manali due to rising water level and incessant rainfall on Sunday.
The ten stranded people include five locals and five forest department personnel. According to a statement by National Thermal Power Corporation, the rescue operation is underway by the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) team. NTPC officers, DC, CISF are present on the spot, the statement added.
Earlier, a video shared by PTI showed, some people were seen rowing a boat amid the waters while one person was seen swimming. The water was filled with debris from trees and mud.
Himachal Pradesh has been witnessing heavy rains and landslides in the past few weeks. The India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for Himachal Pradesh from August 22-24. Meanwhile, a yellow alert for heavy rain has been sounded on August 21. The weather department also warned of moderate risk of flash floods in catchment areas of Chamba and Mandi districts.
Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has requested a specialised relief package from the Centre. He emphasized that the existing relief guidelines outlined in the Union government’s financial provisions are insufficient to address the substantial damages inflicted by the intense rainfall in the state. He sought the package during his meeting with BJP President JP Nadda and Union Minister Anurag Thakur.READ | Shimla inches toward normalcy following rain fury, tourism businesses anticipate revival
Earlier, Nadda and the minister visited the rain-affected areas of Poanta in Sirmaur and Shimla town.
Speaking about the situation in rain-ravaged Himachal BJP President JP Nadda said earlier, “I am pained to see the devastation and loss of human lives and assure all help for rehabilitation of displaced persons… Himachal has suffered huge losses and the union government is seriously concerned about the situation. Efforts are afoot by the administration to provide relief and take up restoration and rehabilitation works. Central help would continue to pour in and all the displaced persons would be rehabilitated.”
The Centre on Sunday approved the release of ₹200 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund as advance assistance to Himachal Pradesh. At least 330 people lost their lives due to rains, floods, landslides, and lightning in Himachal Pradesh since the onset of the monsoon in the state.
