Despite fading hopes, search on for missing persons in Mandi

Despite no breakthrough in recent days, the search operation to locate the missing persons in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district will continue for now, officials said on Wednesday.

Despite no breakthrough in recent days, the search operation to locate the missing persons in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district will continue for now, officials said on Wednesday.

Wreckage of a vehicle and debris at an affected site following recent cloudbursts and landslides, at Seraj valley in Mandi district, HP, on Wednesday. (PTI)

With each passing day, hopes of recovering the missing persons are fading, despite the administration’s ongoing efforts in the disaster-hit district. Officials said that teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Home Guards are still engaged in the ongoing search. So far, 15 bodies have been recovered, while 27 people remain unaccounted for.

The last body, the 15th, was recovered on July 8. Since then, no further remains have been found, raising concerns about the likelihood of additional recoveries. Authorities are also using drone technology to aid the search in the difficult terrain.

Madan Kumar, Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of Mandi, said, “The search operation to find the missing persons is still ongoing. Our teams are on the ground, and we are also using drones to assist in the effort.”

He said that out of the 241 water supply schemes damaged in the disaster, 189 water supply schemes have been temporarily restored so far. “A total of 35 roads of the sub-division were badly damaged, out of which 10 roads have been opened for traffic. Apart from this, 23 local roads out of the damaged roads have been partially opened,” he said.