Chango village affected by cloud burst, Shimla-Kaza Highway block

Flashflood and cloudburst caused heavy damage to the houses and apple orchard occurred in Shalakhar and Chango areas adjoining the Tibet border of Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh on Monday evening.  Zilla Parishad member Mr. Shanta Kumar said that due to heavy rains last evening, incidents of cloudsburst occurred at two or three places. Due to which a lot of damage has been done to the houses and preharvast apple crops to number of the Farmers. He demanded the government to conduct surveys and assessment of losses and  immediately provide assistance to the people. Flashflood & Muck submerged dozen of vehicles. Shimla- Kaza main road was also blocked at four places around Chango and Shalakhar. Unprecedented Monsoon and cloudsburst caused flash flood in the desert land, the river drains came in spate with muddy water.  The Khango Gompa foot bridge has also been washed away with Chango villages.  At many places, due to the boulders and shooting stones are coming down from hills towards the settlement.  The debris entering many houses, household items and houses have been damage.  Due to the debris reaching people’s fields and homes, people have started taking goods out of their homes and transporting them to a safe place. State diaster Management authority spokesperson also informed that incident of Cloud Burst occurred at Village Chango Sub Tehsil Hangrang, District Kinnaur in which one Small Bridge, one Shamshan ghat and apple orchard of  three  growers are also damaged. No Human life Loss

reported. Final Estimate of loss would be done after getting field report.According to the information, there was heavy destruction in village Shalkhar due to which four IPH Kuhul and two local Kuhul got damaged.  Some vehicles are stuck due to flood in the village bus stand.  Water leaked from the roofs of the mud houses of the local people and entered the houses.  Due to this people’s ration and bedding got spoiled by muddy water.  The damage caused to the gardens by this flood is being estimated.It is noteworthy that there is no rain in these areas adjacent to the Tibet border.  Due to which light rain also becomes a disaster in this sloping area.  Due to intensifying rain last evening, there was a flood situation in the sloping desert land. These climatic and weather changes is mainly attributed to the changing environment and massive devastation caused by the coming up on  indiscriminate hydroproject in the area, he added.