This morning, cloudbursts in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla, Mandi, and Kullu districts have resulted in at least two confirmed deaths and left 53 others missing. The intense weather event has caused extensive damage to houses, schools, and hospitals, leading authorities to close all educational institutions in Kullu and Mandi. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu confirmed that officials are working with the NDRF, SDRF, and local agencies to manage the crisis and have called in the army and Air Force for support. Connectivity in Manali has been disrupted, and a building on the Manikaran-Bhuntar road has collapsed, compounding the difficulties.

In Shimla, the cloudburst near the Samej Khad hydroelectric project has led to at least 20 people being reported missing. Rescue teams are struggling to reach the affected area due to damaged road connectivity. The Deputy Commissioner of Shimla, Anupam Kashyap, and other top officials are working on-site to aid the search and rescue operations.

Mandi, located approximately 125 km from Shimla, has also been severely impacted by cloudbursts in Rajban village, causing road blockades and landslides. Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan has ordered the closure of educational institutions and vocational training centers in Padhar subdivision to ensure safety. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is actively monitoring the situation and has instructed officials to provide all necessary assistance to the affected regions.

In neighboring Uttarakhand, cloudbursts have led to additional casualties. In Tehri Garhwal district's Jakhanyali, two individuals, Bhanu Prasad and Anita Devi, have died, and another person has been injured. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has been involved in recovery efforts, including rescuing an injured person from a 200-meter-deep ditch. Additionally, in Haridwar, heavy rainfall caused the collapse of a dilapidated house, resulting in the deaths of two children, Aas Mohammed and Nagma, and injuring nine others.