Himachal Pradesh: Heavy rainfall triggers flash floods in Dharamshala, no casualty reported

Flash floods were reported in Bhagsu Nag, Dharamshala district of Himachal Pradesh due to heavy rainfall. The monsoon is wreaking havoc in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand as flash floods, landslides were being reported. There have been no reports of any casualties due to flash floods.

"So far, no casualty is reported in the Dharamshala flash flood. All the Deputy Commissioners and SPs have been ordered to stay alert and keep regulating tourist places. I appeal to all the tourists to avoid visiting high-risk areas," Chief Minister Jairam Thakur said.

Bad weather also led to the closure of the airport in Dharamshala. "Due to inclement weather and heavy rains, all incoming flights to Dharamshala airport at Gaggal have been cancelled," said airport's traffic in-charge Gaurav Kumar.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the Chief Minister regarding the natural calamity occurring following heavy rains. "NDRF teams are reaching soon for relief work. The Ministry of Home Affairs is continuously monitoring the situation," Shah tweeted.

Meanwhile, two teams of NDRF left for Bhagsu Nag in Shahpur division. Another 5-10 teams of NDRF are on standby in Nurpur that's close to Kangra, said NDRF DG SN Pradhan. More teams of NDRF will be sent, if needed, he added.

In the video tweeted by ANI, the visuals showed floodwater sweeping through streets damaging the parked vehicles.

#WATCH Flash flood in Bhagsu Nag, Dharamshala due to heavy rainfall. #HimachalPradesh
(Video credit: SHO Mcleodganj Vipin Chaudhary) pic.twitter.com/SaFjg1MTl4

— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2021

Two persons were reported missing in Kangra district due to heavy rain and flash floods. "We cannot say it's a cloud burst in Bhagsu Nag but initially, it's a flash flood case due to heavy rain," Deputy Commissioner Nipun Jindal said.

Jindal added according to the Meteorological Department forecast, heavy rain on July 13 as well as from July 14 to 16 has been predicted. Keeping this in mind, orders have been issued under the Disaster Management Act 2005 to district officers of all the departments in Kangra district to remain alert.

Visuals showed an overflowing Manjhi River that damaged around 10 shops in Dharamshala.

#WATCH Around 10 shops damaged as Manjhi River rages following heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala pic.twitter.com/m98H2O6Ank

— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2021

In Shimla, National Highway was blocked near Jhakri in the Rampur area.

Himachal Pradesh | National Highway blocked near Jhakri in Rampur area of Shimla district following heavy rainfall pic.twitter.com/MTvp8PiaPX

— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2021

In Uttarakhand, debris blocked the movement on Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway 07 near Chamoli after heavy rainfall, ANI reported.

#WATCH | Debris blocks movement on Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway 07 near Chamoli after heavy rainfall in the Uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/AwRMrFm6Mv

— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2021