**Title:** Flash Floods in Himachal Pradesh: Search for Missing Labourers Continues
**Meta Description:** Authorities in Himachal Pradesh are searching for six missing labourers after flash floods caused by a cloudburst. Two fatalities confirmed.
**URL Slug:** himachal-pradesh-flash-floods-labourers-missing
**Headline:** Ongoing Search for Missing Labourers After Flash Floods in Himachal Pradesh
A day after devastating flash floods triggered by a cloudburst hit the Kangra and Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh, rescue teams are actively searching for at least six labourers from a private hydroelectric project who went missing on Wednesday afternoon. The rescue operation, which paused at 1:30 am, resumed at 8 am today. Among the missing, one individual was last seen fleeing into a forested area, prompting a focused search in the Khaniyara region of Kangra district.
Tragically, two individuals have been confirmed dead, identified as residents from Himachal’s Samba and Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda. Senior district official Hemraj Bairwa reported that there were 270 workers at the hydroelectric plant in Khaniyara at the time of the incident. The labourers were residing in temporary camps near the stream when a sudden surge in water levels, caused by heavy rainfall, inundated the riverbanks.
In light of the severe weather conditions, the Disaster Management Authority has issued an advisory, as the region remains under an orange alert. Two bodies were recovered from the Manuni Khad in Kangra district, while approximately 15 to 20 workers stationed at a nearby labour colony are feared to have been swept away by the rising waters of the Khaniyara Manuni Khad.
Search and rescue operations are being conducted by teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local administration, gram panchayat, and the revenue department. Fortunately, some local workers associated with the project have been reported safe.
The Beas River’s swelling has partially damaged the Manali-Chandigarh National Highway near Manali, although vehicular traffic continues. Footage from Kullu reveals the extent of the flooding, with one video showing a vehicle adrift in muddy waters. In the Banjar subdivision, a bridge was washed away in the Hornagad area, and water has entered a government school, damaging agricultural land and a cowshed. Additionally, water levels in the Beas and Sutlej rivers have risen significantly.
In Lahaul-Spiti, police reported that landslides, falling debris, and overflowing drains have blocked the road from Kaza to Samdoh at multiple locations.
As the search for the missing labourers continues, authorities remain vigilant in monitoring the situation and ensuring the safety of residents in the affected areas.
**FAQ Section:**
**Q: What caused the flash floods in Himachal Pradesh?**
A: The flash floods were triggered by a cloudburst, resulting in a sudden rise in water levels due to heavy rainfall in the region.