A series of intense cloudbursts late Wednesday night wreaked havoc across Himachal Pradesh, unleashing massive flash floods that swept away bridges, homes, and critical infrastructure.
The disaster has left over 325 roads—including two national highways—completely blocked, severing access to remote villages and triggering large-scale evacuations.
Districts like Shimla, Lahaul-Spiti, and Kullu bore the brunt of the deluge. In Shimla, a bus stand and nearby shops were destroyed, while in Lahaul-Spiti, panchayats such as Koot, Kyav, and Karpat were cut off from the rest of the state. A police post in Ganvi Ravine was also swept away, underscoring the severity of the situation.
In Kullu’s Nirmand subdivision, Bagipul Bazaar was evacuated following a cloudburst near Shrikhand Mahadev. Bathad village saw roads and cottages buried under debris, with farmland rendered unusable.
Rescue operations are in full swing, with the Indian Army and district officials deploying drones and helicopters to reach stranded civilians. In Kinnaur’s Rishi Dogri Valley, four people were airlifted after receiving emergency supplies via drone.
Authorities have issued orange and yellow alerts across multiple districts, warning of continued heavy rainfall and potential landslides. Temporary shelters have been set up, and food distribution is underway for displaced families.
This disaster comes amid growing concerns over climate change, with experts warning that such extreme weather events may become increasingly frequent in the Himalayan region.
