At least 18 dead, 16 missing after cloudbursts and landslides in northern India

Cloudbursts and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall killed at least 18 people in northern India between the night of September 15 and the morning of September 16.

Fifteen fatalities and 16 missing persons were reported in Uttarakhand after a major cloudburst, flooding and landslides, while three deaths were confirmed in Himachal Pradesh, according to state officials as of September 17.

Over 900 people were stranded in Uttarakhand after flash floods and landslides cut access to multiple localities in Dehradun District, including Sahastradhara, Tapovan, and the IT Park area. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local police deployed equipment to evacuate residents and clear blocked roads.

“Last night it rained heavily, with epicentres being Sahastradhara, Mussoorie, Prem Nagar, in the Dehradun District, Narendra Nagar in Tehri District, some portions of Pithoragarh, Nainital, and Pauri,” said Uttarakhand Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman.

“In Sahastradhara, 264 mm (10.3 inches) rainfall was recorded. Many houses and shops have been destroyed. Roads in more than 10 places have been destroyed. One bailey bridge has been washed away, and in many places, the whole road has been washed away. We have rescued more than 900 people and all of them are safe. Nearly 15 people have died, 13 out of which are from Dehradun,” added Suman.

Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inspected the worst-hit areas, including Sahastradhara, Raipur and Maldevta, where a 100 m (330 feet) stretch of road was washed away by floodwaters.

The Tamsa river overflowed, flooding the Tapkeshwar temple and submerging its giant Hanuman statue up to the shoulders, a level not seen in decades. SDRF and NDRF teams rescued 400–500 students trapped at Devbhoomi Institute and helped hundreds of stranded people wade through flooded rivers.

A major section of a bridge on the national highway at Nanda ki Chowki, under the Premnagar area, also collapsed early this morning, prompting authorities to shut down traffic on both sides and divert the route.

The collapse has also led to a complete halt in electricity supply across the region, affecting thousands of residents. As a result, large parts of Jaunsar Bawar, Chakrata, and Vikasnagar have lost connectivity with Dehradun, the district headquarters.

In Himachal Pradesh, Mandi District recorded multiple landslides and flash floods, destroying houses and blocking the Chandigarh–Manali highway.

A landslide struck a house in Bragta village of Mandi district, killing two women and a child, while four others were reported missing.

Police said the Dharampur bus stand was flooded and many buses and vehicles were swept away in the strong flow of water. Floods in Son and Bharand drains damaged a workshop, pump houses, shops, and over 20 buses.

Meanwhile, in Shimla, a landslide buried several vehicles near Himland in the city center, blocking the main circular road and causing problems for school-going children.

“There has been a lot of damage to houses and government properties. Livelihood is affected. We are working to get things back on track. Connectivity has been disrupted at several places. The water level of rivers has increased. All our departments are working on a war footing,” Dhami said.

Since June 20, Himachal has reported 417 deaths, 45 missing, and damages of over INR 40 million (approximately USD 455 000) making this one of the state’s worst monsoon seasons.

Himachal Pradesh has experienced at least 46 cloudbursts, 97 flash floods and 140 landslides so far this year. At least 655 roads, including stretches of three national highways, were closed, while 1 250 power transformers and 160 water supply schemes were already disrupted before the latest bout of showers exacerbated the situation.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued Orange and Yellow alerts for both states, warning of further heavy rainfall. Rainfall in Uttarakhand between September 1 and 16 was significantly above the seasonal average, raising water levels in the Ganga, Yamuna, and their tributaries.

Rescue and relief operations are continuing, with residents in vulnerable areas urged to remain alert to further flash floods and slope failures.

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

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