Flash floods leave 18 Malayalis stranded in Himachal Pradesh; members from Ernakulam, Malappuram, Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam

NEW DELHI/KOCHI: A 25-member group, including 18 Malayalis, has been stranded in Kalpa during flash floods in Himachal Pradesh. They are from Ernakulam, Malappuram, Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, said Varada R Nair, a native of Aluva. The group, which had reached Kalpa from Spiti, has been stuck in Kalpa for two days, unable to reach Shimla. Road travel is not possible due to heavy rains and landslides. It is also reported that some members of the group have health problems.

A group of 25 people, who met through an Instagram group, set off from Delhi on August 25. Their goal was to visit Manali and the Spiti Valley. However, due to heavy rains, they abandoned their visit to Manali and continued their journey to Spiti. Nilambur native Shahrukh Hussain said that the group, which had reached Kalpa from Spiti, got stuck on the road on Saturday while traveling to Shimla.

Meanwhile, representatives of the local administration have ensured all assistance including food and accommodation to the group staying at The Mountain Serenity Hotel in Kalpa. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh called them over the phone and DCP Amit Kumar Sharma visited them in person to inquire about the situation. The DCP said that the traffic will be restored by Monday evening and the group will be brought back.

Meanwhile, AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal and BJP State President Rajiv Chandrashekhar spoke to Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu over the phone to seek help for the Malayali group. The Chief Minister assured them that all necessary assistance would be provided.

Himachal Pradesh witnessed 91 flash floods from June 20 to August 30. There were 45 cloudbursts and 93 landslides. 822 roads, including three national highways, have been closed due to the rains.