Outlook Planet Desk
On June 25, two people were killed and over a dozen went missing after cloudbursts triggered flash floods in several parts of Himachal Pradesh. In Kangra, two bodies were found and at least 10 people went missing. Three were swept away in Kullu.
Kangra’s Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa told The Indian Express that two bodies have been recovered so far. The victims were working at a small hydro project near Dharamshala. Authorities are tracing the missing and have requested a worker list from the contractor.
Kullu Deputy Commissioner Torul S Raveesh said three people went missing after cloudbursts hit Sainj Valley in Banjar. Homes were swept away, water levels rose in Manali and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams began rescue operations. Water sports have been suspended as a safety measure.
An official in the rescue team said cloudbursts hit the Brahmaganga region in Manikaran Valley, the Gomti River area in Gadsa Valley, Banjar and Sainj. In Sainj’s Jeeva Nala, sheds belonging to the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) were washed away, causing major damage.
Heavy rain triggered a cloudburst in Brahmaganga near Manikaran, flooding homes and forcing evacuations. In Baladhi village, rising waters destroyed a temporary bridge over the Parvati River—built by locals after a 2024 disaster—cutting off access and worsening hardship for villagers.
Due to heavy rain, dumped soil for a bridge near Dekhchhu in Dharampur blocked a stream on the Jalandhar–Attari–Mandi Highway. The blockage turned the stream into a lake, submerging the Gasia Mata temple, a sarai and a cremation ground—threatening nearby villages.
Due to the rising risk of floods, landslides, and cloudbursts triggered by the active monsoon, the Himachal Pradesh Police Headquarters has issued an advisory. All district SPs have been instructed to activate emergency response teams without delay.
Officials have been asked to inspect vulnerable spots and share emergency contact numbers with residents. People are advised to avoid hillsides, water bodies and unnecessary travel. Dam water releases must follow strict safety protocols and sensitive zones will be closely monitored.