50 more missing after cloudbursts as search for over 190 people in Indian Kerala state continues

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) – Over 50 people are reported missing in a fresh incident of cloudbursts in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, while rescuers continue to search for 191 people who went missing in landslides in the southern Kerala state on Tuesday.

In the latest incident of cloudbursts that occurred in the state of Himachal Pradesh early Thursday morning, over 50 people are reported missing.

“Very sad news has been received about more than 50 people missing due to cloudburst in Rampur tehsil of Shimla, Padhar tehsil of Mandi district and Jaon, Nirmand villages of Kullu,” Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu wrote on X.

He said the local administration has been instructed to carry out relief and rescue operations smoothly.

Meanwhile, the search operation in southern Kerala state entered its third day, with 191 people still missing.

A massive landslide struck the state’s Wayanad district on Tuesday, killing at least 178, officials said.

The Indian Army and Air Force have been dispatched to help assist in the search and rescue operation.

“178 bodies have been recovered. We have also recovered 102 body parts, and 95 people are currently hospitalized,” an official told Anadolu requesting anonymity.

The Indian Army said on Thursday that it “constructed an improvised 100ft foot bridge overnight and opened it to the public.”

"This will further aid the rescue operations and assist in quick evacuation of stranded people,” the Army wrote on X.