“Catastrophic cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh: Scenes of devastation as heavy rains cause widespread damage and flooding.”
Photo credit: Tilak Thakur (@thakur_tilak)
A severe cloudburst struck multiple regions of Himachal Pradesh early Thursday, resulting in at least five fatalities and leaving around 50 individuals unaccounted for. The affected areas include Nirmand, Sainj, and Malana in Kullu; Padhar in Mandi; and Rampur in Shimla districts.
In response to the disaster, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a “red alert” for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning in Kangra, Kullu, and Mandi districts. The IMD also forecasted a moderate flash flood risk in these districts, as well as in Sirmaur and Shimla over the next six hours.
Warnings from the IMD extend to potential landslides, mudslides, and land subsidence. Disruptions to essential services, including water, electricity, and communications, as well as damage to crops and vulnerable structures, are anticipated due to strong winds and waterlogging.
Orange and yellow alerts were also issued for certain districts. An orange alert is in effect for Kangra, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall on Friday, August 2. Additional heavy rains are expected in Sirmaur, Solan, Mandi, and Shimla on the same day.
Meteorological expert Sandeep Sharma reported that 20 weather stations in Himachal Pradesh recorded heavy to very heavy rainfall. The state is expected to experience ongoing wet conditions for the next four to five days.
Since the onset of the monsoon season on June 1, Himachal Pradesh has recorded 266.6 mm of rainfall, a shortfall of 27 percent compared to the normal 366.3 mm. Rain-related incidents have claimed 65 lives up to Tuesday evening, with damages estimated at ₹433 crore.
