SUMMARY
- Flash floods and cloudbursts in Himachal Pradesh swept away at least 20 people, mostly workers near a hydroelectric project.
- Kullu and Kangra districts witnessed massive destruction: homes damaged, bridges washed away, and highways partially collapsed.
- Authorities issued an orange alert with continued rainfall and rising river levels in Beas and Sutlej, triggering statewide disaster response.
Rising Rains, Rising Risks: Himachal’s Seasonal Peril
As Himachal Pradesh reels under a wave of devastating weather events, the cloudbursts and flash floods of June 2025 have once again exposed the state’s escalating vulnerability to climate-driven calamities. In districts like Kangra and Kullu, once known for their scenic valleys and tourism, disaster has turned tranquil streams into deadly torrents. On Wednesday night, walls of water tore through labour colonies, villages, and mountain roads—killing at least two and leaving 20 others feared dead.
The tragedy unfolded rapidly: temporary shelters near the Indira Priyadarshini Hydroelectric project were engulfed by surging waters after heavy rainfall caused the Khaniyara Manuni Khad and nearby drains to overflow. In Kullu, three people went missing in similar cloudburst-triggered deluges, while key roadways including the Manali-Chandigarh highway suffered severe damage.
With an orange alert issued by the MeT department and more rain forecasted till June 29, the urgency for sustainable mitigation has never been higher. This piece explores the unfolding crisis, the response on the ground, and the long-standing challenge of balancing development with ecological sensitivity in the fragile Himalayas.
पहाड़ों में भारी बारिश और भूस्खलन से तबाही; हिमाचल प्रदेश के कुल्लू में बादल फटने से हुई बारिश में 2 लोगों की मौत; रुद्रप्रयाग में 18 लोगों से भरा टेंपो ट्रैवलर नदी में गिरा #HimachalPradesh #floodalert #cloudburst pic.twitter.com/UXyX1bQEDo
— डीडी न्यूज़ (@DDNewsHindi) June 26, 2025
On the Ground: Rescue Amid Rising Waters
- Two bodies were recovered from the Manuni Khad; 20 workers remain missing after floodwaters hit their temporary shelters.
- The incident occurred near a hydroelectric project, where the work had already been suspended due to weather alerts.
- Rescue teams from SDRF, local panchayats, and revenue departments are engaged in high-risk operations amid continued rainfall.
- Dharamsala MLA Sudhir Sharma confirmed the number of missing via social media, while the area remains on high alert.
In Kangra’s Bihali area, floodwaters diverted from multiple drains converged violently near the hydroelectric project site. The workers, caught unaware during a rest period in their shelters, had no time to react. Local officials say rescue operations have been hampered by inclement weather and terrain challenges. However, a few workers have been located and are safe, confirming the scale of impact and need for swift intervention.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), with support from villagers and the local administration, began combing through debris-laden riverbeds and temporary camps. Authorities have sealed off risky areas while maintaining surveillance along swollen riverbanks. As search operations continue, the tragic silence underscores the fragility of development hubs operating amid such volatile topography.
Infrastructure Collapses and Isolated Hamlets: Kullu Devastated
- Kullu district reported three major cloudbursts in Sainj, Shilagarh, and Rehla Bihal, washing away people, roads, and bridges.
- Flash floods damaged multiple homes, a school building, and small shops across Banjar and Manali subdivisions.
- The Manali–Chandigarh highway suffered partial collapse near Manali, disrupting movement.
- Beas River in full spate; authorities warn of rising waters in Sutlej and other tributaries.
Kullu witnessed chaos as relentless rains sparked back-to-back cloudbursts in vulnerable areas like Jeeva Nallah and Gadsa. In Rehla Bihal, three residents attempting to salvage belongings were swept away. Entire bridges were torn from their foundations, and school premises submerged in torrents. Banjar MLA Surinder Shauri noted “several calls reporting massive destruction” and urged residents to stay away from rivers and drains.
In videos shared from the area, vehicles float like debris, underscoring the helplessness of even modern infrastructure when nature strikes hard. Connectivity to several hamlets has been cut off, and agricultural lands, cowsheds, and small businesses lie submerged or washed away.
With thunderstorms forecasted in Kangra and surrounding areas, and winds reaching 56 km/h in Tabo, the situation is being monitored closely. The resilience of locals and responders is being tested once again in a region where such events are no longer anomalies but an annual dread.
Forecast of Fragility: Climate, Construction, and Crisis
- The IMD issued an orange alert for multiple districts, including Chamba, Kangra, Shimla, and Sirmaur.
- Low to moderate flash flood risk persists in five districts; coldest temperature recorded at 13.1°C in Kukumseri, hottest at 33.6°C in Una.
- Meteorological extremes and poorly planned development collide each monsoon, making each tragedy both natural and man-made.
- Environmentalists call for stricter controls on construction near rivers and hydroelectric zones.
Climate experts and geologists have long warned that Himachal Pradesh’s aggressive construction—including roads, dams, and tourist resorts—has left its slopes unstable. The indiscriminate felling of trees, riverbed encroachments, and inadequate drainage systems intensify the impact of even moderate rainfall.
June 2025’s rainfall has already pushed rivers like Beas and Sutlej past safe thresholds. With cloudbursts becoming more frequent in high-altitude zones, and with tourists expected to flock to the hills during summer, authorities are under pressure to ensure both preparedness and accountability.
The MeT’s forecasts till June 29 hint at worsening conditions, yet a robust early warning system and long-term mitigation plans remain underdeveloped. Balancing the economy and ecology is no longer optional—it is existential.
When the Mountains Cry
The Himachal Pradesh cloudburst flash floods of June 2025 are not just a tragedy—they are a wake-up call. What unfolded in Kangra and Kullu is not an isolated episode but part of a larger pattern of Himalayan fragility exposed by short-sighted development and a rapidly changing climate. Each life lost, each home swept away, is a grim reminder that preparedness must go beyond yearly warnings.
The real question is not just how to rebuild after this, but whether the rebuilding will challenge the cycle itself—or merely prepare for its next strike. If India seeks resilience in its mountain states, it must start by listening to the land before the rivers rise again.
