PALAMPUR: As many as 14 houses, several vehicles and a local middle school building were damaged after a flashflood struck Chherana village, located in Himachal Pradesh’s remote Chhota Bhanghal valley, 70 km from here.
The flashflood occurred this morning following a cloudburst caused by heavy rain. Additionally, due to continuous landslides from the hills, 50 houses have been vacated by local residents, who have relocated to safer areas.
Reports indicate that relentless heavy rainfall over the past 48 hours has caused widespread devastation in Chhota Bhanghal, disrupting normal life in the valley. Dozens of villages are without power after power supply poles and transmission lines were uprooted. Vehicular traffic to Multhan, Luhardi, Barot and Kothi Kohar has come to a standstill due to massive landslides and fallen trees blocking the roads. Hundreds of vehicles remain stranded across the valley as most roads are buried under snow and large boulders.
In response to the crisis, the local authorities opened the floodgates of two hydroelectric projects in the valley to manage the flashfloods in the Uhal and Lamb Dug rivers. Several camping sites along the banks of the Uhal River have also suffered significant damage.
Meanwhile, the district administration has issued an advisory urging tourists and locals to avoid rivers and streams after the Meteorological Department forecasted moderate to heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours. Residents of Chhota Bhanghal expressed concerns that rescue and relief operations have yet to begin. Baijnath MLA Kishori Lal stated that relief teams were dispatched to the valley this morning and he remained in contact with rescue workers. He has directed the Baijnath administration to prioritise relief, rescue and rehabilitation efforts in the affected areas.