KULLU, HIMACHAL PRADESH – The state of Himachal Pradesh continues to be battered by the monsoon season, with a cloudburst reported on Friday evening in the Sharod Nallah area of the Kullu district. The incident, which occurred at approximately 5:35 p.m. in Sub Tehsil Jari, led to a significant rise in the water level of the adjoining Barogi Nala, according to reports from media.
The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Kullu has confirmed that the situation is currently under control and, as of now, there have been no reports of any loss of life or casualties.
This event comes as Himachal Pradesh grapples with a series of weather-related disasters. Heavy rains and flash floods have blocked 357 roads across the state, and have knocked out power to 599 distribution transformers. Furthermore, 177 water supply schemes have been affected, disrupting essential services for residents.
The monsoon season has been particularly deadly for the state this year, with an official count of 208 monsoon-related deaths. Over 112 of these fatalities were a direct result of natural disasters like landslides, flash floods, and house collapses, while the remaining 90-plus deaths were due to road accidents, often caused by treacherous road conditions.
In the wake of the continuous downpour, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a forecast for more rain in the coming days. An orange alert has been put in place for August 11 and 12 for three districts, with a yellow alert issued for the rest of the state.
The cloudburst in Kullu is the latest in a series of similar incidents in the Himalayan region. It follows a devastating cloudburst in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district just over a week ago, where five people died and more than 100 people are still missing after mudslides swept away buildings and roads.