Cloudburst in Bilaspur Causes Damage to Vehicles and Crops

Landslide in Hamirpur’s Samtana Khurd Displaces Families Awaiting Relief

Early this morning, a cloudburst near Guttarahan village, close to Namhol in the Naina Devi assembly constituency of Bilaspur district, triggered a landslide that damaged several vehicles and agricultural land. The sudden flash flood in a nearby stream carried a large amount of debris onto the road, blocking traffic and crushing vehicles parked along the roadside. At least two vehicles were buried under the debris, while significant portions of farmland and standing crops were destroyed. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.

Kashmir Singh, whose land and crops were affected, said the floodwaters spread debris across his fields, rendering the land unusable.

The District Disaster Management Authority acted quickly to clear the road and restore connectivity. Local resident Hoshiar Singh explained that the floodwaters, laden with debris, washed away farmland and even entered some homes with mud and silt.

Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar confirmed that four vehicles were trapped under the debris. He added that an assessment of crop damage is underway, and relief will be provided to affected families once the report is finalized.

Authorities visited the site to assess the situation. The Public Works Department has already begun clearing the debris to reopen the road at the earliest.

Meanwhile, in Samtana Khurd village of Hamirpur district, landslides this morning damaged at least five houses, of which two have been vacated as a precautionary measure. Villagers Amro Devi, Chintaram, and Roshan Lal reported that their land had also collapsed in 2023.

A team of experts has collected soil samples to determine the cause of the landslides, but the report has not yet been released. Chintaram explained that heavy rainfall has caused cracks in their homes, as the surrounding land continues to sink.

SDM Rajendra Gautam from Barsar confirmed that the village has been inspected and that the administration will provide immediate assistance to the affected families. He added that the local patwari has submitted a damage report.

The villagers expressed frustration, stating that they had vacated their homes but had yet to receive any assistance from the authorities. They fear further damage as heavy rains persist. All affected families depend on agriculture, cultivating crops on around 35 kanals of land to sustain their livelihoods.