No trace of those washed away in flashfloods at Sainj Valley in Kullu

There is still no trace of Murti Devi, a Class VIII student who went missing while trying to save her ailing father, Nand Ram, and an elderly relative, Yandasi. A cloudburst-triggered flashflood in the Jivah nullah of Sainj Valley swept away their home, along with three others, in the Sharan Bihali area. As the floodwaters surged through Jivah Nullah, Murti made the ultimate sacrifice — risking her own life to save her family.

According to reports, Murti first ensured her mother and brother reached safely as the water level was still manageable. She then returned to rescue her bedridden father when a sudden surge engulfed both of them. The remaining family members are in deep grief after losing multiple loved ones to the disaster.

Banjar MLA Surender Shourie visited the site to assess the damage and extend support to the families of those missing. He expressed sympathy and assured them of all possible government assistance.

Kullu Deputy Commissioner Torul S Raveesh also visited the affected areas, meeting families and offering condolences. She confirmed that the search operation to locate the three missing individuals was actively underway. She emphasised that the district administration stood firmly with those affected and that every effort would be made to support them through relief and rehabilitation.

She directed local officials to expedite recovery work, assess the extent of damage swiftly, and ensure the timely delivery of essential supplies and aid. She directed the local authorities to expedite relief work and ensure roadways, footbridges and essential services were restored without delay.

The disaster has severely impacted rural connectivity, with many link roads and temporary footbridges washed away. Road damage has also been reported in Bahang and Bindu Dhank near Manali, though traffic remains operational. Manali residents have raised concerns over outdated flood images and videos being circulated on social media, portraying an inaccurate picture of the region. A local, Vishal, said recent cloudburst events were confined to rural areas and there was no current threat to Kullu or Manali.

Himachal Tribune