THE Malaysian High Commission in New Delhi is in touch with the Indian authorities for information about 12 Malaysian tourists stranded in the flood-hit region of Himachal Pradesh.

Torrential rains in parts of northern India have caused widespread floods and landslides, and Himachal Pradesh, a hilly state, has been severely affected.

The families of at least 12 Malaysian tourists who cannot be contacted have sought the diplomatic mission’s help in locating them.

“We are in touch with the Indian authorities to find out the status of the Malaysians in Himachal Pradesh,” Amizal Fadzli Rajali, Malaysia’s deputy high commissioner, told Bernama.

Mobile communication networks were disrupted in some areas with thousands of vehicles waiting for rescue in various locations in Himachal due to damaged roads.

State officials said they were trying to reach stranded local and foreign tourists. 

Among them were 15 Russians, who were stuck in the Kullu district’s Kasol area. 

The priority is to safely evacuate tourists and then focus on repairing roads, water supplies, power lines and other infrastructure, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu told reporters today. 

“We have managed to evacuate 50% of tourists,” he said, adding that by 8pm (India time) the number will reach 80%. 

The damage to infrastructure was estimated to be US$500 million (RM2.3 billion). 

Eighty percent of Himachal’s water and irrigation projects have been destroyed in the calamity, Sukhvinder said.

Pharmaceutical company Fermenta Biotech Limited said yesterday it had suspended work at its facility situated at Kullu.

Heavy monsoon rains have battered the states of Uttarakhand, Punjab and Haryana, with river waters rising sharply.

Delhi is on a flood alert as the Yamuna river water level breached the danger mark. At least 100 people have died in rain-related incidents across north India. – Bernama, July 12, 2023.