Shimla's Rampur hit by sudden cloudburst; bridges washed away, villages cut off, crops ruined

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A massive cloudburst unleashed chaos in Dhanpal Kanda village within the Koot gram panchayat of Rampur subdivision, Shimla, around midnight on July 29, leading to sweeping destruction of infrastructure and crops, according to a report from The Tribune.

Local accounts reveal that standing crops and newly planted apple saplings were devastated, leaving farmers reeling from the sudden loss. The intense flashflood washed away one major bridge and three smaller ones, structures crucial for connecting Koot village to adjacent areas. The impact extended to the region’s transport network as landslides caused severe damage to the main road leading to the panchayat headquarters.

In some relief, the main bridge within Koot village withstood the onslaught, a development locals acknowledged as a small but vital reprieve amid widespread losses.

However, damage was not limited to Koot alone. In nearby Khiuncha village, two electricity poles were swept away by landslides triggered by the relentless downpour, resulting in a complete power blackout for the locality, The Tribune reported.

Ratna Dogra, the Pradhan (head) of Koot panchayat, stated that the cloudburst struck around midnight, causing significant worry among villagers. Dogra was quoted by The Tribune as saying, “Thankfully, there has been no loss of life, but the material and infrastructural damage is extensive.” The statement underscores a sense of relief even as challenges mount for restoration of livelihoods and connectivity.

Rampur’s Sub Divisional Magistrate, Harsh Amrender Singh, said that a revenue team is set to visit the affected areas to carry out a thorough assessment of the damage on Thursday. The official has assured that necessary relief and restoration operations would commence swiftly, aiming to bring normalcy back to the devastated villages.