Cloudburst triggers flash flood in Himachal Pradesh: 2 dead, 20 missing

Two persons were killed, and over a dozen went missing after cloudbursts led to flash floods in several districts of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday.

According to the Kullu District official, two bodies were recovered and at least 10 reported missing in Kangra district, three persons and as many houses got washed away in the district.

The Incident happened at Manuni Khad in Kangra district, while around 15-20 workers stationed at a labour colony near the Indira Priyadarshini Hydroelectric project site were feared swept away following a surge in water level in the Khaniyara Manuni Khad.

Flash floods were also reported from Manali and Banjar in the district, and search operations were underway, Kullu ADC Ashwani Kumar said.

The Manali-Chandigarh National Highway was partially damaged near Manali as the Beas River in spate cut into a part of the highway, however, vehicular traffic is still on.

Shimla, the state capital, also recorded heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours. Rainfall recorded last night include: Palampur 145.4 mm, Jogindernagar 113.0 mm, Nahan 94.0 mm, Baijnath 85.0 mm, Paonta Sahib 58.4 mm, Gohar 55.0 mm, Kangra 37.4 mm, Jot 30.0 mm, Raipur Maidan 29.2 mm, Amb 25.6 mm, and Kasauli 22.0 mm.

The MeT department has cautioned of low to moderate flash flood risk in parts of five districts — Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla and Sirmaur — till Thursday (June 26, 2025) evening. It also issued an orange warning of heavy rain at isolated places in four to seven districts over the next four days till June 29.

MD Shimla has also issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain in district Kullu, Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmour and Solan along with one or two places in district Una in the next 24 hours. The alert will remain in effect till Thursday evening.