Mandi, July 3 -- At least 13 people have died and 29 remain missing in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district following a series of cloudbursts and flash floods since Monday night, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC). Eight bodies were found on Wednesday. According to the SEOC's report, the state experienced 16 cloudbursts and three flash floods, mostly concentrated in Mandi, causing widespread devastation. Mandi was the epicentre of the monsoon since June 30. As many as 154 people were rescued, officials said. A search and rescue operation is on for which the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force have also been deployed. One death has been reported from Thunag village, two each from Dhar Jarol, Kelti, Jogindernagar's Neri Kolta, Siyanj and Bada, one from Karsog's Purana Bazaar and Parwana/Talwara. The district administration has directed residents to stay away from rivers as spillway gates of the Koldam hydropower station have been opened that has led to an increase in the Sutlej river level. Nine affected families of Kuklah village said that they saw their homes, belongings and lifelong earnings washed away before their eyes. They said that they could not even take out our belongings, somehow ran away with the children. The SEOC's data mentioned that 63 people have lost lives in the state since the onset of monsoon on June 20. "Mandi district has reported the highest casualty - 17 deaths - since June 20. As many as 40 persons have been missing across the state," it stated. The report added that 103 people have been injured in monsoon-related incidents. According to the SEOC, 245 roads remained blocked in the state. Visiting the disaster-hit areas in Mandi, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh has called for an in-depth study by the central and the state governments to ascertain the reasons behind the landslides. "Eight to 10 cloudburst in a single night has never been seen before," he said. He interacted with the affected families in disaster-hit Syathi village in Dharampur, Mandi. The CM also inspected Dharampur. Sukhu also conducted an aerial survey of the disaster-affected areas of Thunag and Janjehli in the district and distributed relief material. Former CM and leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, who visited the disaster-affected areas of Kuklah and Bagsyad in his home assembly constituency, said, "There is neither electricity nor communication services in Seraj area for the last three days. It has become difficult to reach Thunag. The main road to Janjheli has completely collapsed." He said over 25 small and big bridges had collapsed in the area. "I have spoken to the Centre and demanded NDRF personnel and two helicopters of the Air Force for relief work. The home minister sent them immediately." Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri said priority is being given to restoring drinking water and sewerage services. 3,698 Jal Shakti schemes, including 2,786 drinking water schemes, 733 irrigation and 41 sewerage schemes, have been damaged. With spells of heavy rainfall expected to continue in parts of Himachal Pradesh, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued an alert regarding low to moderate flash flood risk in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi and Shimla districts in Himachal Pradesh during next 24 hours. The weather office said surface run-off or inundation may occur at some fully saturated soils and low-lying areas due to expected rainfall occurrence. On July 3, a yellow alert of heavy rainfall was sounded in five districts: Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla and Sirmaur. While a yellow alert has been sounded in 3 districts on July 4, an orange alert of heavy to very heavy rainfall has been issued for Una, Kangra and Mandi districts for July 5. It is followed by an orange alert on July 6 in the six districts: Una, Bilaspur, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla and Sirmaur. Light to moderate rainfall is very likely at many places on July 3, 4 and 5. htc...