Shimla 26 June

The body of another person was recovered from a hydroelectric project site in Himachal Pradesh that was hit with flash floods, taking the toll in the incident to three, officials said on Thursday.

While the bodies are yet to be identified, search operations were intensified on Thursday to find the eight persons still missing since flash floods were triggered by cloudbursts in Kangra and Kullu districts on Wednesday.

Two bodies were recovered on Wednesday in Kangra while another was recovered on Thursday.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) commandant Baljinder Singh said they are trying to trace five people who are feared to have been swept away from the project site during the floods.

Three more people are yet to be traced at Rehla Bihal in Kullu district.

Two persons were confirmed to have died and about 15-20 workers were feared swept away at a labour colony near the Indira Priyadarshini Hydroelectric project site following a surge in water level in Manuni Khad in Khaniyara village on Wednesday evening.

Since then, some of the missing people have since been rescued. Authorities have not clarified the number of people rescued.

NDRF commandant Singh said that joint search teams of NDRF, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police and home guards are on the job, though tough topography and bad weather are acting as a disturbance.

Another person who was last known to have fled to a nearby hill to save himself during the floods at the site has been found, officials said.

Some of the missing people hail from Nurpur and Chamba areas of Himachal Pradesh and others from Uttar Pradesh.

BJP national president J P Nadda expressed condolences to the bereaved families of the workers who were swept away due to a sudden increase in water flow in Manuni Khad.

"In this hour of crisis, every BJP worker is dedicated to providing all possible help to the citizens of Devbhoomi. I pray to God to give peace to the departed souls and provide strength to the bereaved families," he said in a statement issued here.

Dharamshala BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma who reached the spot on Thursday said the project site was 1 km from his village. He said he received a call on Wednesday that the water level had surged and 15-20 people had been swept away.

Sharma said that building sheds for labourers near the drain, and not shifting them when the weather deteriorated to safe areas amounts to negligence and an investigation should be initiated.

Besides, alleging lapses by authorities in ensuring the safety of workers, Sharma raised serious concerns about the negligence of the contractor and the project officials.

He claimed the actual damage to life and property is far greater than what is being reported and only the labour contractor can provide accurate information about the number of missing workers.

All other workers associated with the project have been relocated to a safe area. As of last night, around 250-275 workers were employed at the site, and all have been provided temporary shelter at Ambedkar Bhawan in Khaniyara, officials said.

The MLA also demanded adequate compensation to the family of the deceased.

According to officials, the project work had been suspended due to the rain, and the workers were resting in temporary shelters near the site when floodwaters from Manuni Khad and nearby drains diverted towards the labour colony, sweeping several of them away.

Three people, , including a 14-year-old, at Rehla Bihal in Kullu district who were swept away in the deluge while trying to take away valuables from their homes are still missing and a search is going on to find them.

Deputy Commissioner Torul S Ravesh said the NDRF has joined the rescue operation in Kullu. She said while the monsoon is an annual feature that tourists can enjoy safely, they should avoid going to low-lying areas and river beds.

Flash floods were also reported from Manali and Banjar in the district. Heavy rains have caused massive damage in Sainj, Gadsa and Hornagad areas that come under the Banjar assembly constituency in Kullu.

Banjar MLA Surinder Shauri who visited the affected parts said the main road is blocked in Hornagad and electricity and water supply has been disrupted in the village.

Shauri directed the officials of the revenue department to provide relief to those affected by the floods.