Rampur (Himachal Pradesh) [India], May 25: A sudden cloudburst struck Rampur in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday evening, triggering flash floods that caused widespread panic and led to the washing away of several vehicles. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.
According to local officials, the cloudburst resulted in intense rainfall and a hailstorm, which overwhelmed drains and ditches, sending torrents of water through residential areas. An estimated five to six vehicles were swept away into the River Satluj, and over two dozen others were damaged.
Anni MLA Lokender Kumar, while assessing the situation, called for urgent relief efforts and a thorough damage evaluation. “Due to heavy rain and hailstorm, a cloudburst occurred last evening. Around 5–6 cars were swept away, and about 24–25 vehicles sustained damage. People are facing severe hardships. I urge the PWD and revenue department to promptly assess the damage and begin rescue operations,” he said.
Local resident Salim Ahmed recounted the terrifying experience. “It started raining heavily with a storm. Water gushed through the drains suddenly, sweeping vehicles with it. People came out screaming. The police arrived and advised us to evacuate to safer places,” he said.
Another eyewitness, Narayan, who owns a shop in the area, shared that his car was trapped in the debris. “The cloudburst happened right in front of me. My car got stuck, and I’ve come to retrieve it,” he added.
Though Rampur recorded 28 mm of rainfall, the Himachal Pradesh Meteorological Centre in Shimla reported more intense rainfall in other parts of the state. Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district received 107 mm of rain, while Kandaghat in Solan recorded 103 mm.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the ongoing wet spell to persistent cloud cover, which has also caused a drop in minimum temperatures by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius in most areas. Shimla, for instance, recorded a minimum of 12°C—four degrees below average.
IMD senior scientist Sandeep Kumar Sharma stated that the state may experience a brief respite from rain on May 26. However, another round of widespread rainfall is expected from May 27 to May 29, along with a hailstorm alert for districts including Chamba, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur, Shimla, and Solan.
Residents and farmers have been advised to remain cautious, especially in light of potential hail damage to crops and property.