A recent cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh has brought catastrophic destruction, completely obliterating the village of Samej. Survivors are left grappling with the enormity of their loss and the daunting task of rebuilding their lives.
Heart-Wrenching Accounts from Survivors
Anita Devi, a resident of Samej village, recounted the harrowing night when the disaster struck. “On Wednesday night, while we were asleep, a loud bang shook our house. When we looked outside, the entire village had been washed away. We fled to the village’s Bhagwati Kali Mata temple and spent the entire night there,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. Despite the devastation, Anita’s house survived, but she is left with uncertainty. “Now, I don’t know who I should stay with,” NDTV quoted as saying, highlighting the severe impact on the community.
Hon. CM Sh. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu interacted with and encouraged the 14 NDRF team at Village Samej, Kullu. Further due to rising waters and landslide risk in Kandral, 6 victims and a dog were evacuated. Ops will continue tomorrow. #NDRF #HimachalPradesh pic.twitter.com/AoS7cG9Rij
— 14TH NDRF , NURPUR (@14NDRF) August 2, 2024
In another poignant account, Bakhshi Ram, an elderly resident of the village, shared his grief. “My family members, around 14 to 15 people, were swept away in the flood. I received news of the flood at 2 am and was in Rampur at the time, so I survived. When I arrived here at 4 am, everything was destroyed. Now, I am searching for my loved ones, hoping that someone is still alive,” he said, tears in his eyes.
Extensive Damage and Ongoing Efforts
The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) reported that as of Saturday, 53 people are still missing, and six bodies have been recovered following the cloudburst and subsequent flash floods that ravaged the Kullu, Mandi, and Shimla regions of Himachal Pradesh. Special Secretary DC Rana of the DDMA stated that over sixty houses were washed away, and several villages have been severely affected by the floods.
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Restoration works are currently underway in Rampur, where the cloudburst and ensuing flash floods damaged a road connecting the Rampur and Samej regions. The efforts to restore infrastructure and provide relief to the affected communities are ongoing, with authorities working tirelessly to assist the survivors.
A Community in Mourning
The village of Samej and the surrounding areas are left in mourning as families search for their loved ones and begin the process of rebuilding their lives. The disaster has underscored the vulnerability of the region to natural calamities and the urgent need for effective disaster management and support systems.
As the community grapples with this tragedy, stories like those of Anita Devi and Bakhshi Ram remind us of the human toll of natural disasters and the resilience of those who survive them. The road to recovery will be long, but with collective efforts and support, the affected regions will strive to rebuild and recover.
