Himachal Pradesh: ‘Saved my life by holding on to a tree branch all night, a woman got swept away in the flood in front of me, could not save her’

After the cloudburst in Nihri of Lambathach in Seraj valley, many scenes of devastation are coming to the fore. Bishan Singh, who escaped death during the disaster and reached Zonal Hospital Mandi for treatment, also told the incident of that night. He said that last Monday night was terrible. It was dark all around and it was raining heavily. Seeing the danger to the houses, I went to a safe place with the family, when the landslide started. Then I and the female laborer working in our polyhouse fell 50 meters below due to the debris of the hill. A branch of a tree came in my hand. I spent the night holding it, while the female laborer Sushmita of West Bengal got swept away in the strong current of the drain below. She was swept away in front of my eyes but I could not save her.

When the morning came, there was debris all around. My arm was broken and there was a deep injury in the leg. In such a situation, I crawled on the rocky and thorny paths of the forest and reached my family. I stayed with the family for two days due to heavy rain. On Wednesday, the neighbours took him to the Ayurvedic pharmacy Nihari by crossing the damaged roads and mountains on a chair. The villagers took him on foot for about 30 km to Bagsyad main road at 7 am on Thursday. After that he reached the regional hospital Mandi by a private vehicle.

The cloud burst at 11:30 pm

Bishan Singh’s nephew Gulshan told that the cloud burst at about 11:30 pm on the night of the incident. The drain flowing on the other side of the house was overflowing. At that time, uncle Bishan, aunt Jagdamba Devi, father Uttam Shetty, his son Paras, Tejendra, Dameshwarni were present at home. All of them left for a higher place taking along with them 22-year-old Sharan and 20-year-old Sushmita, a couple working in a polyhouse from West Bengal. After going some distance from the house, everyone returned to the house after hearing the rumbling of trees and stones from above. By the time everyone reached home, Bishan and labourer Sushmita got caught in the debris and fell about 50 meters down. Bishan somehow saved his life by holding on to a branch of a tree, while Sushmita was swept away by the strong flow of water.