Shimla, India – June 27, 2025 — A string of deadly cloudbursts across Himachal Pradesh and Jammu-Kashmir has claimed at least seven lives, left dozens missing, and caused widespread destruction as intense monsoon rains continue to hammer northern India. The flash floods have washed away bridges, roads, and homes, prompting emergency declarations and large-scale rescue operations.
Four people have now been confirmed dead after multiple cloudbursts struck the Kangra and Kullu districts between June 25 and 26. The latest bodies were recovered from the Indira Priyadarshini Hydroelectric Project site in Kangra, where temporary labor shelters were swept away by a torrent of floodwaters from Manuni Khad. The deceased have been identified as Chain Singh from Jammu and Kashmir, Aditya Thakur from Chamba, and Pardeep Verma and Chandan from Uttar Pradesh.
As many as 250–275 workers were present at the hydro project site at the time of the incident. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has relocated survivors to Ambedkar Bhawan in Khaniyara and is continuing efforts to trace those still missing. According to NDRF Commandant Baljinder Singh, several individuals are feared to have been swept away when the floodwaters suddenly diverted toward the workers’ camp during the night. Authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of people rescued or still unaccounted for.
Additional flash floods were reported from Manali and Banjar, while Sainj, Gadsa, and Hornagad experienced heavy damage to infrastructure and property. Rivers like the Beas, Sutlej, and Brahmaganga remain at dangerously elevated levels, and officials have suspended recreational water activities while warning both locals and tourists to stay away from riverbanks and landslide-prone slopes.
#WATCH | Flash flood fury in Dharamshala after cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh#HimachalPradesh #Floods #Rainfall #CloudBurst #viralvideo pic.twitter.com/JrTAKEprsm
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) June 26, 2025
In Jammu and Kashmir, at least three people, including two children, died when cloudbursts and flash floods hit Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, and Kathua districts. Shaqafat Ali (14) and Safeena Kousar (11) were swept away while grazing cattle near a swollen stream in Rajouri. Cloudbursts were also reported in Qazi Mora (Poonch) and in high-altitude areas of Doda, Udhampur, and Ramban, though no additional casualties were confirmed. Local administrations have banned swimming, fishing, and school picnics near rivers, waterfalls, and streams as a precaution.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has expanded its warnings nationwide. A ‘red alert’ was issued for Idukki, Malappuram, and Wayanad districts in Kerala, where rising river levels and intense rainfall caused flooding in low-lying areas. Hundreds of residents have been evacuated to relief camps in Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Idukki. Strong winds also brought down hoardings and uprooted trees, further disrupting life across the state.
In Madhya Pradesh, IMD forecasts indicate the potential for heavy rain over the next 24 hours. Affected districts are preparing for additional flooding threats and public safety risks.
Back in Himachal Pradesh, the rainfall totals have been extraordinary. Palampur recorded 145 mm (5.7 inches) and Jogindernagar saw 113 mm (4.4 inches) within a 24-hour span. The IMD has issued an orange alert for continued heavy to very heavy rainfall across the state, including Kullu and Kangra, through June 28.
As the monsoon continues its advance, communities across northern and central India remain on high alert, with rescue and relief teams working round-the-clock to respond to a rapidly evolving crisis.
