Flash floods wash away vehicles in Himachal Pradesh, India
Torrential rainfall and flash floods have washed away multiple vehicles in Himachal Pradesh over the past two days.
Torrential rain triggered flash floods in the Kullu district on February 27, washing away multiple vehicles in the Bhootnath Nala area. In addition, landslides have buried several vehicles under debris in Gandhi Nagar.
Continuous rainfall has led to the closure of 444 roads across the state, including four national highways. National Highway 305 and NH-5, critical routes connecting Shimla to Kinnaur and Upper Shimla, have been blocked by landslides.
Major disruptions have been reported in Rampur and Rohru because of road blockages restricting transportation and the supply of essential goods. The Public Works Department is working to clear the debris, but ongoing precipitation is delaying recovery efforts.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an Orange Alert on February 27 for heavy to very heavy precipitation in the Mandi, Kangra, Kullu, and Chamba districts, warning of continued adverse weather conditions.
The IMD has predicted heavy snowfall in the Lahaul and Spiti districts, with Shimla also expected to receive a mix of rain and snow. Heavy rains are also forecasted for the Una and Hamirpur districts.
Snow accumulation has been recorded in multiple locations, with Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti receiving 20 cm (7.87 inches) of snow, while areas like Khadrala, Kukumseri, and Hansa have reported substantial snowfall.
Temperatures have dropped significantly across the state, with Tabo in Lahaul-Spiti recording a low of minus 4.5°C (23.9°F). Sarahan received the highest rainfall in the last 24 hours, measuring 29.1 mm (1.15 inches), followed by Seobagh with 22.2 mm (0.87 inches) and Manali with 19 mm (0.75 inches). Other regions, including Bharmour, Jot, Gohar, and Karsog, have also reported substantial rainfall, while Shimla, Solan, and Kasauli recorded light showers between 2–5 mm (0.08–0.20 inches).
The IMD has also issued warnings for possible thunderstorms with lightning in multiple regions and advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
Himachal Pradesh received only 70.4 mm (2.77 inches) of rain between January 1 and February 27, which is 61% below the expected 181.7 mm (7.15 inches) for this period. The shortfall has raised concerns over potential drought conditions in the upcoming summer months.
Schools and educational institutions in affected districts, including Kullu, Shimla, Chamba, Kinnaur, and Lahaul-Spiti, have been closed as a precautionary measure.
References:
1 Special Message (No.- 6) – IMD – February 27, 2025
2 Heavy rain wreaks havoc in Himachal Pradesh amid orange alert; several vehicles washed away in Kullu – THE TIMES OF INDIA – February 28, 2025
Featured Image Credit: NDTV
Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.
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