One person was killed and 32 others are missing after a cloudburst near a hydro project site in Himachal Pradesh's Rampur area in Shimla district on Thursday. Rescue authorities were at the spot to locate the missing people.

The cloudburst occurred in Samej Khad amid torrential rainfall in the region and a team of officials from the Rampur sub-divisional administration, NDRF, SDRF, CISF and home guards were involved in the rescue operation, Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap said.

"Sub-Divisional Magistrate Nishant Tomar reached the spot and is monitoring the rescue operation. So far, we have come to know that 32 people are missing and one body was pulled out from the debris," he said.

Rescue authorities were forced to visit the spot with equipment for two kilometres as the cloudburst resulted in road connectivity snapping off at several places.

Kashyap said a contingent of ITBP were also called for the rescue operation and basic facilities like ambulances and relief materials were deployed at the site.

The official added that every effort was being made to save the people who are missing.

Meanwhile, Union Health Minister JP Nadda spoke to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu over the cloudburst in various areas of the state and extended his condolences over the death of the person in the disaster.

Nadda told Sukhu that all possible assistance will be given by the Centre.

The Union Minister spoke to former Chief Miniser Jairam Thakur and Himachal Pradesh BJP chief Rajeev Bindal and directed all party workers to engage themselves in relief work.

Source: India Today