Shimla: More than 100 people are feared to have been washed away in Himachal Pradesh in flash floods caused by a devastating cloudburst in Shillagarh village, 50 km from Shimla, in Garsa area of Kullu district early on July 16.

Most of the victims were labourers of Satyam Construction Company and Bholanath J P Ltd, engaged in execution of Parvati Hydro Power Project, official sources said.

Two labourers, who were among the 50 persons injured, died on way to the hospital at Kullu where 35 were brought for treatment. The condition of 10 others was stated to be critical.

There were about 230 labourers at the site when the cloudburst occurred.

The sources said the cloudburst caused flash floods in Pulianallah in the village, washing away people and destroying property.

The deputy commissioner along with relief and rescue teams and contingents of police, home guard and ITBP reached the spot on receiving information about the disaster and launched rescue operations.

On instruction from Chief Minister V B Singh, the local authorities have distributed blankets, tents, ration and other assistance to the affected persons.

Informing the Vidhan Sabha about the disaster, the Chief Minister said there were about 230 labourers at the site, most of them from Bihar and Nepal.

All communication links and power supply to the disaster area had been badly disrupted as the cloudburst snapped overhead transmission lines.

There were no local people among those washed away, as they had shifted to higher areas after the devastating flood in Pulianallah and Garsa Khud way back in 1995.

A large number of trees and lands had also been washed away in flash flood.

PTI