The body of a 15-year-old girl, Murti Devi, who had gone missing after a devastating cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh’s Sainj Valley, was recovered on Saturday from the banks of the Pin Parvati river near Bakshaul.
Murti, a resident of Sharan Bihali village, was one of three family members swept away in the flashflood that followed the cloudburst over the Jivah nullah on June 25. Her body was discovered by a local farmer, tangled in uprooted trees along the riverbank. Villagers quickly gathered and helped retrieve her body, which was then handed over to the Banjar police. The authorities have launched a formal investigation into the incident.
According to eyewitnesses, the farmer was heading to his fields when he noticed what looked like driftwood lodged near the embankment. As he got closer, he realised it was Murti. He immediately alerted others, and within minutes, villagers from Sharan Bihali reached the site to recover her body.
The same cloudburst had triggered a violent flashflood that ravaged several hamlets in the area. Five homes and a small stall were washed away in the rain. At the time of the tragedy, Murti was with her 72-year-old father, Nand Lal, and 67-year-old aunt, Yan Dasi, who had traveled from Raila village for a dental visit. The three were caught in the sudden surge, while other villagers managed to escape to higher ground. All three disappeared under a torrent of water, mud, and debris.
The tragedy has left the Sainj Valley community heartbroken.
Banjar DSP Sher Singh confirmed that search operations are ongoing to locate Nand Lal and Yan Dasi. “Our teams are methodically scouring every stretch of the riverbank, supported by local volunteers and the district disaster management authorities,” he said, adding that underwater sonar equipment might be deployed if visibility conditions improve.
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