Cloudbursts, flash floods kill 69 in Himachal Pradesh

In Himachal Pradesh, at least 69 people have died, 37 are missing, and 110 have been injured as the state battles cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides triggered by days of continous and heavy monsoon rainfall.According to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu a heavy rain alert is in place for all districts in the state till Monday, July 7. The Chief Minister said 14 separate cloudbursts had been reported since the onset of the monsoon, which has damaged roads and drinking water projects, as well as electricity supply to several areas. Sukhu said his government "stands with the disaster-affected families" of the state and, according to news agency ANI, will provide Rs 5,000 to each family as "renting accommodation". He also said relief and search-and-rescue operations were underway, particularly in Mandi district, the worst-affected.

#WATCH | Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu says, "Since the rains began, 69 people have lost their lives, 37 people are missing, 110 people have been injured, and damages worth approximately Rs 700 crore have been incurred... Roads and water projects… pic.twitter.com/z2ZPDpvGwJ

— ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2025

The monsoon entered Himachal Pradesh June 20 and, as it does every year, wreaked havoc across the state. The latest information indicates Mandi district alone has reported well over a dozen deaths, while 13 people have been confirmed killed in Kangra, six in Chamba, and five in Shimla. In addition, hundreds of houses have been destroyed and 14 bridges have been washed away. Also, nearly 300 livestock, including 164 cattle, have been killed. Across the state, over 500 roads have been closed and over 500 electricity distribution transformers, or DTRs, are non-functional, leaving tens of thousands of people, literally, in the dark. The resutling scarcity of water and food has been flagged as a looming humantiarian disaster.