Shimla, June 26 (UNI) A series of cloudbursts and intense monsoon showers today triggered flash floods and widespread destruction across Himachal Pradesh, with major incidents reported from Kullu, Kangra, Shimla, and Lahaul-Spiti districts.

The India Meteorological Department’s Orange Alert proved ominously accurate, as heavy rainfall caused landslides, damaged infrastructure, and left tourists stranded.

In Kullu district, cloudbursts struck multiple locations including Jiwanala in Sainj valley, Shillagarh in Gadsa, Hornagad in Banjar, and Manikaran’s Brahma Ganga Nala.

The Jiwanala incident alone caused massive devastation—sweeping away a jeep, a 1 MW hydropower project, and damaging the Sainj Bazar road and Siund link road, along with a temporary shop.

Four houses in Raila Bihal were severely damaged and three persons were reportedly washed away while attempting to retrieve belongings. Panic spread across the valley as water surged downstream, washing away seven culverts between Bihali and Larji.

In Banjar subdivision, a small bridge and a vehicle were washed away by floods in Hornagad. A cowshed was destroyed and water entered the Government Primary School Hornagad, damaging the premises. Further destruction was reported in Hurla, Pancha, and Manihar Nalas of Gadsa valley, where footbridges and culverts were swept away.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Kullu Ashwani Kumar confirmed the cloudbursts and said the NDRF team is already deployed in the district for rapid response. Relief, search, and rescue operations are in full swing, with local teams also monitoring flood-prone zones.

In Kangra district, one person died after drowning in Manuni Khad near Khaniyara. Heavy rain in Thural Bazaar led to severe waterlogging, flooding shops and roads, turning the marketplace into a drain due to lack of proper drainage.

In the tribal Lahaul-Spiti region, 20 to 25 tourists are stranded on the Kyoto-Chicham link road in Spiti due to flash floods. Landslides and overflowing drains have also blocked the Kaza-Samdo road, prompting the administration to ban travel on these routes until conditions improve.

Meanwhile, in Baladhi village of Manikaran valley, the temporary culvert over the Parvati river, built by locals post-2024 disaster, was washed away due to a rise in water level, cutting off access to the village.

The IMD continues to warn of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the coming days, and the state administration is urging residents and tourists to stay indoors, avoid riverbanks, and follow all official advisories. UNI ML SSP