Why Cloudbursts and Landslides Are the New Normal?

August 6, 2025

New Delhi: These days, cloudbursts and landslides are practically daily headlines across India, especially in the Himalayan states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. But have you ever wondered why these disasters are skyrocketing? Welcome to our new segment, Disaster Decoded, where we unravel the science, data, and human factors fueling India’s rising natural calamities.

On August 5, a twin cloudburst in Uttarkashi’s Harsil Valley, Uttarakhand, triggered flash floods and landslides, killing at least four people and leaving over 50 missing, including 8–10 soldiers. In Himachal Pradesh, the 2025 monsoon has been relentless, claiming over 184 lives and causing infrastructure losses exceeding ₹100 crore.

These incidents are part of a broader, alarming trend of increasing cloudbursts and landslides across India’s Himalayan states. So, why are these disasters becoming so frequent, and what’s driving the devastation in Himachal Pradesh?

 Why Are Cloudbursts and Landslides Surging?

• Himalayan Geological Instability

The Himalayas, a young mountain range, are geologically unstable, with fault lines and steep slopes prone to landslides. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are particularly vulnerable due to their tectonic activity.

ISRO reported 12,319 landslides in Uttarakhand from 1988 to 2023, with over 1,100 in 2023 alone, a pattern mirrored in Himachal’s Kullu, Mandi, and Kinnaur districts.

• Climate Change Intensifies Weather

Rising global temperatures are altering monsoon patterns, making them erratic and more intense. Warmer air holds more moisture, fueling powerful cloudbursts. The IMD notes that climate change increases atmospheric moisture, leading to extreme rainfall events. In Himachal Pradesh, this has driven 148 cloudbursts and over 5,000 landslides since 2018, with annual losses of ₹1,000–2,000 crore.

• Human-Induced Triggers

Unregulated tourism and infrastructure projects are destabilizing the Himalayas. In Himachal, the tourism boom has led to rampant construction of hotels and roads on unstable slopes.

Deforestation and riverbed encroachments further amplify flood damage.

• Urbanization and Poor Planning

Rapid urbanization in Himachal Pradesh, where 45% of the land is prone to floods and landslides, has disrupted natural drainage systems. In Mandi, 181 roads were blocked in 2025 due to poor planning, with 278 water supply schemes non-functional.

Unchecked construction on floodplains has made districts like Kullu and Shimla disaster hotspots.

Himachal Pradesh: A State Under Siege

• Human Toll: Over 184 lives have been lost, with 103 deaths directly linked to rain-related incidents like cloudbursts (17), landslides (17), flash floods (8), and drowning (20). Another 81 deaths occurred in road accidents due to treacherous conditions. Mandi reported 23 rain-related deaths, followed by Kangra (24) and Kullu (10).
• Infrastructure Damage: The state has suffered losses exceeding ₹1,714 crore, far surpassing the ₹100 crore mark. This includes 309 blocked roads (including National Highway 305), 236 disrupted water supply schemes, and 113 non-functional power transformers. Mandi alone reported 167 road blockages and 91 transformer failures.
• Cloudburst Incidents: Himachal recorded 19 cloudbursts and 23 flash floods by July 6, 2025, with Mandi facing 14 cloudburst events. These incidents washed away bridges, roads, and homes, particularly in Kullu, Shimla, and Mandi.

Three-Year Snapshot (2022–2025)

• 2022: Himachal Pradesh saw 39 cloudburst incidents, with 169 deaths and ₹619 crore in losses. Kullu and Shimla were hit hardest, with 28 and 22 deaths, respectively. Uttarakhand reported 33 deaths from cloudbursts in Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh.
• 2023: Himachal faced 170 cloudburst and landslide incidents, killing 51 in Shimla and Mandi alone. Losses reached ₹7,171 crore, with 9,600 houses damaged. Uttarakhand saw cloudbursts in Purola and Rudraprayag, with three deaths.
• 2024: Himachal reported 73 deaths by August, with cloudbursts in Shimla, Kullu, and Mandi leaving 47 missing. Losses hit ₹649 crore. Uttarakhand’s Bhim Bali cloudburst stranded 200 pilgrims.

Since the onset of the monsoon season, the Himalayan region has significantly witnessed a rise in floods, cloudbursts, landslides, and glacial lake outbursts. As authorities have intensified rescue operations, there’s an urgent need to keep a keen eye on the urbanization in the region, as these disasters do not affect only locals but also vanish their natural habitat.