Himachal Pradesh has once again been struck by a natural disaster. On Wednesday, cloudbursts in the districts of Kullu and Kangra caused widespread devastation. While two people have died in the sudden floods, authorities fear that approximately 20 more may be missing.
Himachal Pradesh Cloud Burst: Monsoon rains have brought devastation to Himachal Pradesh. On Wednesday, heavy rainfall, coupled with cloudbursts and sudden floods across the state, severely disrupted daily life. In Kangra district, two bodies have been recovered from the Manuuni Khad river, while there are fears that around 15-20 workers residing near the Indira Priyadarshini Hydroelectric Project site in the Khniara settlement may have been swept away by the rapidly rising waters of the Manuuni Khad.
Sudden Flood in Worker’s Colony, Several Missing
On Wednesday morning, the flow of the Manuuni Khad river near Khniara, close to Dharamshala in Kangra district, suddenly surged with intense water flow. Fifteen to twenty workers residing in the settlement near the Indira Priyadarshini Hydroelectric Project were swept away by this flood. Reports indicate that the project’s construction work had already been suspended due to heavy rain, and the workers were resting in temporary tents. Subsequently, the Manuuni Khad overflowed, inundating the settlement.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local administration, and other agencies have initiated relief and rescue operations immediately. Two bodies have been recovered, and the search for the remaining individuals continues. Officials stated that some workers are safe and have been relocated to secure locations.
Three Cloudbursts in Kullu
Three separate cloudburst incidents occurred in Kullu district on Wednesday morning, specifically in Saunj, Rehal Bihal, and Shilabgarh (Gadsar Valley). These events resulted in sudden floods and significant damage. In Rehal Bihal, three individuals were swept away and are currently missing while attempting to retrieve belongings from their homes.
Kullu’s Additional Deputy Commissioner, Ashwini Kumar, reported that sudden floods also impacted the areas of Manali and Banjar, damaging roads and bridges. The Manali-Chandigarh National Highway sustained partial damage, although traffic remains open.
Increase in Water Levels of Beas and Sutlej Rivers
The water levels of the state’s major rivers, the Beas and Sutlej, are also rising rapidly. Road connectivity in the Kaiga to Samdoh stretch of the Lahaul-Spiti district has been disrupted due to landslides and overflowing nullahs (small streams) in several locations. Residents have been advised to relocate to safer areas due to the heavy rainfall and ongoing landslides. Himachal Pradesh experienced heavy rainfall across many areas over the past 24 hours.
Palampur recorded the highest rainfall at 145.5 mm, followed by Joginder Nagar at 113 mm, Nahan at 99.8 mm, Bajranth at 85 mm, and Paonta Sahib at 58.4 mm. Moderate to heavy rainfall was also reported in other areas including Dharamshala, Kangra, Narkanda, Amb, and Kasol. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a flood and landslide warning for five districts – Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, and Sirmaur – until Thursday evening.
