New Delhi, August 04: The death toll from flash floods triggered by cloudbursts in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi, Kullu, and Shimla districts has risen to nine, as rescue teams intensify efforts to locate 45 missing individuals. Rescue teams recovered a body from Rajban village in Mandi. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that heavy rains will continue in the state until August 7.

A total of 410 rescuers from the Army, NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, CISF, Himachal Pradesh Police, and home guards are involved in the search operations, utilizing drones to aid in their efforts. The cloudbursts, which occurred on the night of July 31 in Kullu's Nirmand, Sainj, and Malana; Mandi's Padhar; and Shimla's Rampur subdivision, caused significant destruction. Himachal Pradesh Cloudburst: 19 People Missing After Cloudburst in Shimla's Samej Khad, Search and Rescue Operation Underway (Watch Video).

What Is Cloudburst?

Cloudbursts are sudden, intense rainfalls often accompanied by hail and thunder, capable of producing flood conditions. These events can rapidly dump large amounts of water in a short period. Retired IMD meteorologist Anand Sharma explained that cloudbursts are like a “a huge bucket filled with water that is toppled over.” Himachal Pradesh Cloudburst: 6 Bodies Recovered, 53 Missing After Cloudburst Followed by Flashfloods Wreak Havoc in Kullu, Mandi and Shimla Regions (Watch Video).

Why Do Cloudbursts Happen?

Cloudbursts occur when water-filled cumulonimbus clouds are forced to release their contents due to cold air pressure. Mukhtar Ahmed, an IMD official in Kashmir, noted that global warming is increasing the frequency of cloudbursts. Cloudbursts frequently occur in the hilly and mountainous areas of the Indian subcontinent, largely due to the region's complex topography,which facilitates orographic lifting.

Human activities such as deforestation and urbanisation can alter local climates and precipitation patterns, affecting microclimates in mountainous areas and potentially influencing cloudburst occurrences.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 04, 2024 10:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).