Widespread Panic and Outrage Over State's Poor Disaster Response System in Himachal.

SHIMLA/KULLU - A series of mind blowing devastating flash floods that have  killed several innocent lives  in Kullu and Shimla districts have exposed the hollow claims of Vyastha Parivartan of the Sukhu government in  Himachal Pradesh.

The panic and pain of the hundreds of family members and their relatives tell a story of human suffering on a vast scale hot on the heels of the disasters  that had battered the state mainly Kullu-Manali, Mandi and Shimla districts in 2023 monsoons.

The wounds of flood victims have not healed. But no lessons were learnt from the past by HPSDMA and IMD.

Both failed to sound an alert in the region. 

The floods that followed the cloud bursts in Srikhahnd Mahadev- Chandrakhani-Malana valley ranges,  washed away several people in Ghanvi, Samej,  Jhakhari areas of Rampur sub-division and Malana in wee hours today.

As a result the Parbati river surged flooding the low laying areas of Bhuntar town before its sent the main Beas river surging.    

The foods washed away  Malana barrage and Power House and severing the road connecting Malana village.

The catastrophe has left the village isolated and has led to widespread panic among family members in Samej where 32 people were feared washed away in the flood. The members and  relatives are frantically searching for missing loved ones.

Manali has been cut off as the highway suffered massive damage due to the surging Beas river for the second time in a row. 

The locals in Rampur and Malana-Jhari belt have  expressed deep resentment towards the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

HPSDMA and IMD failed to issue timely alerts about the cloudburst and flash floods, which could have facilitated evacuations and saved lives.

Villagers have criticized the HPSDMA and IMD for not learning from past disasters.

The much-touted "Vyastha Parivartan" (system change) promised by the Sukhu government appears to be nothing more than an empty slogan.

Earlier this week, two other cloudbursts in Anjani Mahadev uphill of Manali and Tosh Nalla in the Manikaran Valley failed to prompt any preventive measures from the authorities, despite clear signs of vulnerability in areas like Malana, Ghanvi, and Samej.

Even though the Malana dam was damaged in a previous flood, neither the project company nor the District State Disaster Management Authority (DSDMA) took adequate measures to prevent another disaster.

The lack of preparedness and failure to sound alerts have left the local population feeling abandoned and enraged.

Growing Toll and Criticism

As rescue operations continue, the full extent of the devastation in Malana, Ghanvi, and Samej, Kandarad,  Jhakhari remains unclear.

The number of people missing people have gone over 50 and the total damage are still being assessed, but early reports suggest significant casualties and widespread destruction.

The state's disaster response system is under heavy scrutiny, with many questioning the effectiveness of the HPSDMA and the IMD.

The government's lack of proactive measures and failure to issue timely warnings have been highlighted as critical failures in this tragic event.

 Calls for Accountability

Residents are calling for accountability and immediate improvements to the disaster management system. The need for a robust and responsive alert system has never been more apparent.

The state government and disaster management authorities must prioritize the safety and well-being of the people living in vulnerable areas to prevent such tragedies in the future.