Two people have died and at least 53 others are missing after cloudbursts at Shimla, Mandi, and Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh this morning. The cloudburst caused massive devastation in the three districts. Many houses, schools, and hospitals have been damaged. Relief and rescue operations are underway. Authorities have ordered the closure of all schools and colleges in Kullu and Mandi.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who shared the casualty figures with the media, said officials had been instructed to make all necessary arrangements.

“NDRF, SDRF, DCs and officials are present at the spot. We have instructed the officials to make all arrangements. We have also sought help from the army. I appeal to people not to go near canals and rivers. The Air Force has been asked to be ready,” he said.

Mr Sukhu said the situation is under control, but roads and infrastructure have been damaged, while Manali has lost connectivity.

A building housing a vegetable market collapsed on the Manikaran-Bhuntar road, showed videos.

In Summer Capital Shimla, at least 20 people were reported missing after a cloudburst near a hydroelectric power project at Samej Khad. A disaster response team was rushed to the spot and top officials, including Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap and district police chief Sanjeev Gandhi, were on their way.

#WATCH | Himachal Pradesh | 19 people are missing after a cloudburst in the Samej Khad of ​​Rampur area in Shimla district. The SDRF team at the spot for the search and rescue operation

(Visual source – DPRO Shimla) pic.twitter.com/afz23ylf4P

— ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2024

Mr Kashyap said, “According to the information we received, about 20 people are missing from the area affected by the cloudburst.”

The cloudburst has hit road connectivity in the area, so the rescue teams are trying to hike to the affected site.

Cloudbursts have taken place in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi too, about 125 km from Shimla. An order issued by Mandi deputy commissioner Apoorv Devgan has said cloudbursts in Rajban village near Muhal Terang has led to road blockades and landslides.

“Under these circumstances, movement of staff, school and college children, and trainees may not be safe and should be restricted,” the Deputy Commissioner said, announcing that all educational institutions and vocational training centres in Padhar subdivision must remain shut.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been closely monitoring the situation in Mandi and has asked top officials to ensure all possible assistance is provided to those affected, said sources.

Monsoon fury has also hit normal life in neighbouring Uttarakhand. Two people died and another was injured after a cloudburst at Jakhanyali in Tehri Garhwal district. The dead have been identified as Bhanu Prasad (50) and Anita Devi (45).

A spokesperson from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) said that they received information about three people missing due to a cloudburst last night.

“During the search, SDRF recovered two bodies and found an injured person in a 200-metre-deep ditch. He was brought out on a stretcher,” the spokesperson said, according to an ANI report.

In Haridwar, two children died and nine others were injured when the roof of a dilapidated house collapsed after heavy rainfall, said an official.

The dead were identified as Aas Mohammed (10) and Nagma (8). District Magistrate Dhiraj Singh Garbyal told ANI that three people among the injured are in a critical condition. “The remaining are also hospitalised but are out of danger. This old house was in a dilapidated state, and heavy rain caused it to collapse,” he said.

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to Delhi Police on a bail plea filed by Bibhav Kumar, an aide of Aam Aadmi Party boss and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Mr Kumar was arrested in May after allegations of assault, inside Mr Kejriwal’s home, by AAP MP Swati Maliwal.

The next hearing has been set for August 7.

Bibhav Kumar was earlier denied bail by the Delhi High Court and a trial court.

Mr Kumar, in judicial custody till July 16, faces charges of criminal intimidation, assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to disrobe, and attempt to commit culpable homicide.

He also faces charges of “disappearing evidence and giving false information“.

In the brief hearing this morning the court acknowledged “we normally grant bail… we grant bail to murderers and killers”. However, in what may be seen as a bad sign going forward, it also remarked “look at the FIR. She (Ms Maliwal) was crying (during the assault)” and seemed unconvinced by arguments that Bibhav Kumar, if given bail, would not influence witnesses.

“If this kind of person can’t influence who can? Was anyone in the drawing room (of the Chief Minister’s home, where the alleged assault began) to speak against him… he doesn’t seem ashamed, we think,” a bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan remarked.

The court, in a particularly strong observation, also called Mr Kumar a “goon”.

Earlier today senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Mr Kumar, began by questioning the delay by Ms Maliwal in filing her complaint. He referred to Ms Maliwal’s visit to Delhi’s Civil Lines Police Station on May 13 (the day of the alleged assault) and the “strange story” in her FIR.

READ | 500-Page Chargesheet Against Kejriwal’s Aide In Swati Maliwal Case

“Incident was on May 13. FIR was lodged May 16… the story in FIR is strange. She went on the first day to the police station but came back (Ms Maliwal did not file a police complaint or make a statement on that day). Did not lodge FIR. Three days later, FIR was lodged with injuries…”

Mr Singhvi also argued that there are contradictions in Ms Maliwal’s complaints. “Even trial court should have granted bail… there are contradictions about where she says she was hit.”

In her complaint Ms Maliwal said she was hit in the chest, stomach and pelvic areas, and that she felt “absolutely shocked and was screaming for help over and over again”.

“In order to protect myself, I pushed him away with my legs. At that time, he pounced on me, brutally dragged and deliberately pulled my shirt up,” she told the cops.

READ | AAP Says Kejriwal Home Video Exposes Swati Maliwal “Lie”, She Snaps

On the claimed delay, the court pointed out that Ms Maliwal, the former head of the Delhi Commission for Women, had called the police helpline (112) “immediately after the incident”.

Delhi Police later confirmed a call had been placed – from Ms Maliwal’s phone and from inside Mr Kejriwal’s residence. The caller did not, however, reveal their identity, the police said.

“If she is calling 112 immediately after incident, what does it show?” the court shot back.

The court also questioned claims Ms Maliwal should be prosecuted as she had “trespassed” on Mr Kejriwal’s home. “Is it a private residence or office of Chief Minister?” the court asked.

Ms Maliwal has maintained she had an appointment with the Chief Minister on that day.

Mr Singhvi then objected to the court “treating the FIR as gospel” but was told the court is only interested in due processes. “We are not bothered by your internal and other politics.”

READ | Delhi LG Backs Swati Maliwal, AAP Says It Proves Her BJP Link

Bibhav Kumar has denied all allegations by Swati Maliwal, and the AAP has claimed that their senior leader is part of a “conspiracy” orchestrated by its main rival, the Bharatiya Janata Party.

READ | Swati Maliwal Cries In Court, Claims Threat If Bibhav Kumar Gets Bail

Last month, ahead of the trial court’s verdict on his bail appeal, Ms Maliwal claimed there would be threats to her life, and her family, if Mr Kumar were to be released from jail.

The case has sparked a predictable political spat between the AAP and the BJP, which has accused Mr Kejriwal of shielding his aide. The BJP has launched multiple protests on this issue.

The BJP has also demanded that Mr Kejriwal – battling legal problems of his own following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in March – resign, a demand he has rebuffed.

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