Cloudbursts Trigger Flash Floods in Himachal Pradesh and J&K, Infrastructure Damaged, Rescue Underway

Several bridges were washed away in Shimla, Lahaul and Spiti districts, while over 300 roads, including two national highways have been damaged in Himachal Pradesh following fresh incidents of cloudbursts and flash floods in the hill state. No casualty has been reported yet.

Meanwhile, major casualties are feared after a massive cloudburst caused a flash flood in Jammu Kashmir’s Chashoti area on the afternoon of August 14. While the rescue teams have rushed to the spot and evacuation of pilgrims is underway, an official told PTI that at least 10 people are feared dead.

Chashoti Flash Floods

Chashoti is the starting point for the Machail Mata Yatra, as well as the last motorable village on the way to the Himalayan shrine of Mata Chandi in Kishtwar. The annual yatra has been suspended after the flash floods, officials said.

"A flash flood has occurred at Chashoti area in Kishtwar, which is the starting point of the Machail Mata Yatra. Rescue operations have been started," Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Sharma, who is on his way to the cloudburst-hit area along with Senior Superintendent of Police Naresh Singh told PTI.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh wrote on X that additional rescue teams are facing difficulties reaching the cloudburst site due to washed-out roads and bad weather. However, he stated that SDRF and NDRF support is being mobilised.

Himachal Infrastructure Hit Hard

A police post was swept away in fresh floods in Ganvi Ravine, while a bus stand and adjoining shops were damaged following heavy rain in Shimla district. Two bridges were washed away, cutting off Koot and Kyav panchayats in the district, officials told PTI. However, no casualty has been reported so far.

Two more bridges were washed away due to floods triggered by cloudbursts in Karpat, Changut and Udgos Nala of the Mayad valley of the tribal Lahaul and Spiti district. People from Karpat village have been shifted to safe places amid looming danger.

The local MeT office in Shimla issued an orange alert for three districts in Himachal Pradesh, warning heavy to very heavy rain in Chamba, Kangra and Mandi districts on August 14. While a yellow alert was issued for areas in four to six districts from August 15 to August 17, reported TOI.

The state, since the onset of monsoon on June 20, has reported losses of up to ₹2031 crore, PTI quoted officials as saying. More than 120 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents during the monsoon season, while 30 people remain missing.

(With inputs from PTI.)