By :- Shruti Tiwari
In a devastating display of nature’s fury, Himachal Pradesh witnessed 17 cloudbursts in a single night, claiming at least 18 lives and leaving 34 people missing. Torrential rains, flash floods, and landslides triggered large-scale destruction across multiple districts, with Mandi district worst affected, where 16 people died and dozens of homes were destroyed.
According to state disaster management officials, 332 people were rescued from various affected areas as rivers, including the Beas, swelled dangerously and entered residential zones. Over 24 homes and 12 cow shelters were flattened in Mandi alone. The Pattikari hydroelectric project near Kuklah was completely washed away, and over 30 cattle perished.
Widespread Impact Across Districts
In Thunag subdivision, a cloudburst in Kuklah village swept away eight houses and 24 people. By Tuesday evening, nine bodies had been recovered, while 21 remained missing. Similarly, in Syanj (Gohar subdivision), two houses were swept away, leaving nine people missing and two bodies recovered.
In Bara, a house collapse resulted in six people being trapped; four were rescued, and two bodies retrieved. In Parwara, a house was swept away, with two family members missing and one confirmed dead.
Karsog region saw multiple incidents. At Negli Bridge, four people went missing after a cloudburst; one body has been found. In Rikki and Kutti Nala, rescue operations led by NDRF safely evacuated several people stranded near rivers.
Destruction of Infrastructure
The impact extended to transport and power infrastructure:
- 406 roads are currently blocked, with Mandi accounting for 248.
- 171 water supply schemes have stopped functioning.
- 1,515 power transformers have been damaged, leading to blackouts across many areas.
In Kullu’s Aani Behnal, a cloudburst over the Karsha stream caused the complete closure of the national highway. In Kinnaur’s Khrogla (Sangla Tehsil), similar events occurred. A youth died in a fog-related accident in Chamba, and in Kangra, a woman’s body was recovered near an under-construction bridge.
Schools Shut, Flights Canceled
Due to the extreme weather, schools were closed in Mandi, Hamirpur, and Kangra districts. Flight operations were disrupted in Kangra and Kullu:
- Four flights to Kangra were canceled, including Indigo flights from Delhi and Chandigarh.
- Only one flight from Delhi managed to land at Gaggal airport.
- Air services to Bhuntar Airport were completely suspended.
Rescue Operations and Alerts
The NDRF and local authorities continue to conduct massive rescue and search operations. Affected people have been shifted to safer locations across Mandi, Karsog, and Hamirpur.
In Sujanpur (Hamirpur district), 51 people stranded due to rising Beas water levels were rescued after a 5-hour operation. Several national highways and link roads remain inaccessible.
Heavy Rainfall Alerts Continue
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall for four days and a yellow alert for two days across various districts. The regions under immediate threat of floods include Mandi, Kullu, Hamirpur, Solan, Sirmaur, and Shimla.
Economic Losses
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that preliminary assessments show damage worth ₹500 crore due to the cloudbursts on Monday night alone. Between June 20 and July 1, the state recorded total losses of ₹356.67 crore (₹35,667.24 lakh). Assessment is ongoing, with more data being collected from the PWD, Jal Shakti, and HPSEB.
Sukhu appealed to residents to stay at least 500 meters away from rivers and streams, as rainfall is expected to continue.