DHARAMSHALA/KULLU: After cloudburst-triggered flashfloods at several places in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, two bodies – feared to be among 15-20 labourers missing from a private hydroelectric project after a cloudburst unleashed flash floods at the site Wednesday afternoon -- were recovered from the Manuni Khad in Khanyara near Dharamshala of Kangra district.

Apart from this, three people were washed away, and 12 houses and vehicles were swept away in various parts of Kullu district.The cloudburst was part of a larger wave of extreme weather events slamming the region as the monsoon settles in. Torrential rain battered Himachal — swelling mountain streams and rivers, washing away homes and vehicles. IMD has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in several districts.The labourers had been staying in temporary shelters at the project site by the stream in Khanyara when a sudden surge overwhelmed the banks, sweeping away everything in its path. Videos show torrents of water churning through the valley, carrying driftwood, tree trunks, and debris downstream."The bodies haven't been identified. We've asked the project contractor to send us the names of all labourers on site. A rescue team is at work," said Kangra DC Hemraj Bairwa, adding that the number of missing is still unconfirmed.

Kullu district bore the brunt of the deluge. Five homes were damaged in Raila Bihal village, and three people — two women and a man — went missing, officials said. Downstream, floodwaters damaged parts of the Parvati hydropower project.Flash floods struck Sainj, Gadsa, Banjar, and Manikaran, flattening homes, flooding roads, and damaging public infrastructure. In Sainj, a cloudburst over Jeeva nullah tore through the valley, sweeping away parked vehicles, washing out Sainj Bazaar road, and cutting off access to Siyund village.A series of cloudbursts unloaded on Garsa valley, causing the Hurla nullah to breach its banks. Brahmaganga rivulet near Manikaran surged, inundating homes and shops. Nearby, a flash flood in Kasol stream trapped dozens of vehicles in a parking lot.Solang valley also reported sudden flooding and the rising Beas river prompted officials to issue urgent alerts. Floodgates of Parvati and Pandoh dams were opened Wednesday evening as a precaution, with people advised to stay away from riverbanks in Kullu, Mandi, and Hamirpur districts.