Cloudburst Triggers Floods in Khurik Village, Spiti; Homes and Crops Damaged, Ravi Thakur Urges Government for Immediate Relief. 

Shimla:

A sudden cloudburst struck Khurik village in the remote Spiti Valley of Lahaul and Spiti district on Tuesday, triggering flash floods that have caused significant damage to residential properties and standing crops in the region. The incident has left locals reeling, with many homes reportedly inundated and farmlands washed away.

Spiti Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Shikha Simtia, who also holds additional charge as the Deputy Commissioner, confirmed that she is present at the site and overseeing the ongoing relief and rescue operations. “The administration is doing everything possible to support the affected families. Immediate relief measures have already been initiated,” she said over a phone call.

Former MLA and senior BJP leader from Lahaul-Spiti, Ravi Thakur, expressed deep concern over the disaster and urged the Himachal Pradesh government to swiftly assess the situation and compensate the affected people adequately. “I have spoken to SDM Shikha Simtia and requested urgent relief for the victims. The government must step in without delay to ensure proper rehabilitation and financial assistance,” Thakur said in a public statement.

As authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage, teams from the local administration and disaster response units have been deployed for relief and evacuation efforts. The incident has once again raised concerns about the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in Himachal Pradesh’s fragile mountainous terrain.

Residents have appealed for better disaster preparedness and quicker response systems, especially in high-altitude regions like Lahaul-Spiti, where accessibility remains a major challenge during emergencies.