Cloudbursts, flash floods hit Himachal: 8 bridges Collapsed, multiple roads blocked

August 14, 2025

Shimla: Three cloudbursts and flash floods, two landslides, and one drowning incident were reported in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday, resulting in damage to eight bridges and 12 vehicles, and blocking of multiple roads, including a national highway, the State Emergency Operation Centre said.

The natural calamities were reported in Shimla, Sirmaur, Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu, and Kinnaur districts. Fortunately, no human casualty was reported, though one person is missing, suspected to have drowned in the Parvati River in Kullu district.

Indian Army’s Swift Rescue in Kinnaur

Braving darkness, fast currents, and unstable terrain, the Indian Army averted a potential tragedy when a sudden flash flood struck Hojis Lungpa Nala in mountainous Kinnaur at around 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Triggered by a cloudburst in the higher reaches of the Rishi Dogri Valley, the deluge engulfed the bridge across the Sutlej River and injured one individual.

The site was an active road construction zone under the CPWD towards Gangthang Bralam. Upon receiving an urgent request from the Superintendent of Police, the Army mobilised a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) column.

The team reached the location and found four civilians stranded on the far bank. Working with precision, the HADR team illuminated the area for night rescue operations, moved the stranded civilians to higher ground, and evacuated the injured to the Regional Hospital in Reckong Peo.

The Army also deployed logistics drone high altitude (LDHA) systems to ferry essentials — including eatables and coconut water — across floodwaters to sustain the stranded individuals through the night.

Widespread Damage Across Districts

Elsewhere, a flood in the Changreji rivulet in Tashigang, Kinnaur, damaged irrigation channels and pipelines.
A cloudburst occurred in Nanti Ganvi, Rampur Upper Shimla, prompting evacuations and damaging several sheds and a house. The collapse of a bridge cut off access to multiple villages and three gram panchayats.
A landslide at Khaltunala in Kotkhai, also in Shimla district, damaged parked vehicles.

In Kullu district, incidents included a drowning at Chowki in Manikaran, a cloudburst in Bthad that swept away cottages and vehicles, and a flash flood at Kurpan Khad in Bagipul with no major losses reported.

Lahaul-Spiti saw flash floods near Jahalman, a cloudburst at Munni Nallah, blocked roads, and damage to a bridge abutment. Floods at Khurik blocked the National Highway 505.

A landslide in Rajgarh, Sirmaur district, killed four cattle, damaged a cowshed, and swept away a parked car.

Restoration Efforts Underway

The government said all these calamities resulted in damage to eight bridges, multiple roads blocked, 12 vehicles damaged, six cow sheds, and four cottages destroyed. Restoration and damage assessment operations are ongoing across the affected areas