Heavy rainfall in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh: Over 350 roads obstructed, water supply interrupted
In Himachal Pradesh, recent cloudbursts on August 13, 2025, have resulted in flash floods, causing significant damage across multiple districts including Kullu, Shimla, Lahaul-Spiti, and Mandi. Despite the devastation, no fatalities have been reported in the latest events.
The Bagipul and Batahar areas in Kullu district were hit hard, with the Kurpan rivulet being flooded, sweeping away vehicles and cottages near the Tirthan river. Evacuations were carried out downstream to ensure safety. In Lahaul-Spiti, flash floods caused damage in villages such as Dhodhan, Changut, Udgos, and Karpat, washing away two bridges and damaging around ten bighas of farmland. Residents of Karpat were moved to safer locations as a precautionary measure.
Shimla’s Rampur area (Nanti) also experienced a cloudburst with heavy rainfall, but the damage was limited. According to officials, over 325 roads, including parts of two national highways (NH-305 and NH-505), were closed due to the heavy monsoon activity and resulting infrastructure damage.
This year, Himachal Pradesh has seen a high number of monsoon-related natural disasters. As of early August 2025, 28 cloudburst events have been reported, leading to 184 fatalities and economic losses of around Rs 1,714 crore. The districts of Mandi, Kullu, and Una have been particularly affected.
The state government and Union authorities are currently involved in relief and rehabilitation efforts, with concerns over climate change intensifying such extreme weather events. Weather alerts, such as the orange alert issued for multiple districts, have been issued, and the situation is presently under control, according to the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).
Videos from the site show the landscape changing within minutes, and the water level in Barogi Nala, adjoining Sharod Nala, has risen due to the rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Shimla, Mandi, Solan, and Sirmaur districts for August 9.
Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious, avoid unnecessary travel, and pay close attention to official advisories over the coming days. As of Friday, Himachal Pradesh is facing 357 blocked roads, 599 power distribution transformers out of service, and 177 disrupted water supply schemes due to the intense monsoon.
Elsewhere, a cloudburst in Dharali village, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, resulted in torrents of slush and floodwater, destroying homes and forcing residents to flee. An orange alert, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall, has been issued for August 11 and 12 in several parts of Himachal Pradesh.
The remaining deaths were due to road accidents caused by poor visibility and slippery road conditions resulting from continuous rain. Since the start of the monsoon season, 208 weather-related fatalities have been recorded in Himachal Pradesh, with 112 deaths caused by natural disasters such as landslides and floods.
No specific information about the impact of these weather events on the stock market or business news was provided. IndiGo, Air India, and Spicejet have issued advisories regarding the flight disruptions in Delhi due to the heavy rain.
- The latest defi finance market trends show a growing interest in investments that support environmental-science projects, as experts predict that climate-change-induced weather events, such as those in Himachal Pradesh, will become more frequent.
- In the aftermath of the devastating flash floods in Himachal Pradesh, the state government is collaborating with weather-forecasting agencies to improve weather-predicting systems and develop early warning systems to mitigate the impact of future climate-change events.
- With the increasing concerns over climate change and its impact on the environment, investors are turning to finance options that prioritize environmental science and sustainable development, as they seek to minimize risks associated with extreme weather events like the ones observed in Himachal Pradesh.
- As stay-at-home advisories continue in Himachal Pradesh due to the intense monsoon and resulting weather events, the closure of roads has affected the supply chains of regional businesses, potentially impacting their financial performances in the short term.
