Cloudburst kills five, Himachal on alert

Shimla

At least five people have died and several remain missing after a cloudburst triggered flash floods and widespread destruction across Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu confirmed on Thursday. The calamity, which struck Kullu and Kangra districts over the past 24 hours, has caused significant damage to homes, roads, and power infrastructure.

CM Sukhu said, “Five people have died, and three are still missing in Kullu. Another person, earlier presumed missing, was found safe in a nearby forest.” He added that the worst damage was seen in parts of the steep Himalayan terrain, particularly near Dharamshala and surrounding rural areas.

The Chief Minister stated that nearly 15 houses have collapsed due to the heavy rainfall. Road networks in rural villages have been severely affected, hampering rescue operations. “Roads have been badly damaged, especially in interior regions,” he noted. Power infrastructure has also been hit hard. A power project in Kangra suffered major damage, and several missing persons are believed to be employees working at the site.

The state government has placed all departments on high alert. Sukhu urged tourists to remain cautious and avoid rivers and streams during the monsoon season. “Tourists are welcome, but they must stay safe. There is no general threat, but precaution is necessary,” he added. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a rain alert for the coming days. CM Sukhu has scheduled a high-level review meeting with Deputy Commissioners and police officials to monitor the situation and coordinate emergency response efforts.