A sudden cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district caused massive flooding in Thach village early Friday, sweeping away vehicles and damaging homes, fields, and orchards. The incident struck around 12:10 a.m., when three adjoining streams overflowed, sending torrents of water crashing through the area.
Two vehicles, owned by Praveen Moyan and Hari Bisht, were carried away in the floods. In nearby Mastan village, parts of several houses and a cowshed were destroyed. Villagers said cracks have appeared in structures that survived, raising fears of further collapse.
The state capital Shimla also reported heavy damage. A landslide near Edward School forced the closure of Circular Road, a critical artery in the city. In Kumarsain, a three-storey house collapsed in the Karevathi area, leaving residents shaken.
Himachal Pradesh has been battered by extreme weather this monsoon. According to official data, 424 people have died so far in rain-related incidents across the state. Roads, bridges, and power infrastructure have also been severely hit. Over 650 roads, including three national highways, remain blocked, cutting off access to essential services.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu declared the state disaster-hit earlier this month. “The cumulative damages in the past three years exceed Rs 20,000 crore,” Sukhu said. “We have appealed to the Centre for urgent assistance to restore normal life and support affected families.”
The latest disaster comes just days after a similar cloudburst in Mandi district on September 16. That incident destroyed buses, private vehicles, and shops in Dharampur as the Saun rivulet overflowed.
On September 17, flash floods and landslides killed four people and left six missing in different parts of Himachal. Officials said relentless rain has pushed the administration to its limits. Relief teams continue to clear blocked roads and restore power, but the scale of destruction is slowing progress.
Meteorological Department officials said the weather may improve in the coming days. “The upper reaches are expected to see clear skies, while light to moderate rainfall is likely in lower areas,” said Surender Paul, head of the department’s Shimla office. He added that the monsoon season is nearing its end, but the risks remain until rainfall subsides completely.
In Uttarakhand, heavy rain brought similar devastation. A cloudburst in Chamoli district’s Nandnagar damaged 35 houses, injured more than 20 people, and left 14 missing. Ten are feared trapped under debris. State officials said around 200 people were directly affected. Despite the destruction, nearly 2,000 tourists in Mussoorie were reported safe, though road access to the town was cut off.
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