cloudbursts-wreak-havoc-in-himachal-2-dead-many-missing

Cloudbursts swept through multiple regions of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, unleashing a torrent of destruction that left at least five people dead, several missing, and scores displaced in Kangra and Kullu districts. Torrential rain battered parts of the hill state, triggering flash floods, sweeping away homes and temporary bridges, and prompting frantic rescue operations across the region.

In Kangra district, three bodies were recovered and search operations launched for at least ten others believed to have been washed away near Dharamshala. The victims, according to the district authorities, were workers at a small hydroelectric project in Khaniyara. “We have recovered two bodies so far, and efforts are underway to trace people who got washed away in Kangra on Wednesday… The victims were working at a small hydroelectric power project near Dharamshala, Kangra. We have sought a detailed list of workers employed at the plant from the contractor concerned,” Deputy Commissioner Heaj Bairwa had stated this earlier.

MLA from Dharamshala, Sudhir Sharma, said, “Around 15 workers employed at Indira Priydarshni Hydro Project at Khaniara in Dharamshala were washed away in the fast current of water.”

 

VIDEO | Himachal Pradesh: Car washed away, three missing as cloudbursts trigger flash floods in Kullu district.

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/zGf52cQw7e

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 25, 2025

 

The deluge was no less intense in neighbouring Kullu, where multiple cloudbursts were reported in Banjar, Gadsa, Sainj, and Manikaran. Deputy Commissioner Torul S Raveesh said rescue teams were on high alert and damage assessment was ongoing.

“Three persons lost their loves and three went missing after cloudbursts in the areas of Banjar sub-division — Sainj valley — in Kullu; two to three houses were also washed away. Besides, the water level has also increased in many parts of Manali sub-division. Necessary warnings have been issued. Different teams of the State Disaster Response Authority (SDRF) are engaged in the rescue operation. We are also in constant touch with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Our priority is to trace the missing people. Instructions have been issued to suspend water-sports activities in Kullu,” Raveesh stated.

An official involved in the rescue operation noted, “Cloudbursts were reported in the Brahmaganga region of the Manikaran valley, Gomti river area in the Gadsa valley, including Banjar and Sainj. Several other streams, including the Jeeva Nala in the Sainj valley, also experienced cloudbursts, causing significant damage. In Jeeva Nala (Sainj), the cloudburst washed away sheds belonging to National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).”

 

Cloudburst triggered flashfloods today in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India. Rivers swelled in Parvati Valley, Sainj, and Jeeva Nala after heavy rain.

Homes, roads, and bridges were damaged. Three people went missing. Authorities issued alerts as disaster teams began rescue. pic.twitter.com/trFH7YMQ2F

— RenderNature (@RenderNature) June 25, 2025

 

Torrential cloudburst in Himachal's Sainj Valley unleashes a sudden surge in the Jeeva stream, triggering flash floods

Water levels rising dangerously, authorities rushed to issue alerts, urging residents and tourists to steer clear of vulnerable zones#HimachalPradesh pic.twitter.com/inksgcZm8Y

— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) June 25, 2025

 

In Baladhi village of Manikaran valley, a temporary bridge over the Parvati river — built by residents after a previous flood in 2024 — was swept away. The loss of the structure has once again cut off the village, raising concerns over the community’s safety and access to emergency aid.

 

Elsewhere, in Thural (Kangra), a two-hour-long downpour flooded the local market, bringing life to a standstill. In Lahaul’s tribal Udaipur subdivision, the Chokhang–Nainghar road was rendered impassable when a stream swelled unexpectedly, damaging large sections of the road and stranding an HRTC bus. The Public Works Department has begun repair efforts, officials said.
The suspension bridge near Jasrath village in Lahaul collapsed after the Chandrabhaga river swelled beyond its capacity, severing an irrigation scheme crucial for local farmers.

Also read: Cloudburst triggers flash floods in Kullu’s Sainj Valley

 

Meanwhile, Shimla, the state capital, recorded heavy rain, with the meteorological department listing the following rainfall figures (in mm): Palampur (145.4), Jogindernagar (113.0), Nahan (94.0), Baijnath (85.0), Paonta Sahib (58.4), Gohar (55.0), Kangra (37.4), Jot (30.0), Raipur Maidan (29.2), Amb (25.6), and Kasauli (22.0).

In Dharampur, Mandi district, heavy rainfall led to the blockage of a stream near Dekhchhu, where soil from an under-construction bridge dammed the flow, creating a temporary lake that submerged the Gasia Mata temple, a sarai, and a cremation ground. The artificial lake now poses a serious threat to nearby villages.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Shimla, issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Kullu, Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, and Solan districts. Una district has also been placed on alert. Light to moderate rain is forecast across the state until 1 July, with heavy showers expected between 25 and 27 June.

In response to the worsening weather and growing number of affected areas, the Himachal Pradesh Police Headquarters issued a state-wide advisory. District Superintendents of Police have been instructed to mobilise emergency response teams and monitor vulnerable zones. The public has been advised to avoid riverbanks, unnecessary travel, and hilly slopes, particularly in areas prone to landslides.

BJP National President JP Nadda expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and extended support to those affected. “Received sad news of many workers being swept away due to a sudden rise in water flow in Manuni Khad of Khaniyara near Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. In this hour of crisis, every BJP worker is dedicated to providing all possible help to the citizens of Devbhoomi. I pray to God to give peace to the departed souls and provide strength to the bereaved families,” Nadda said in a post on X.