Rain Havoc: Uttarakhand Cloudburst Kills 2, Himachal On Red Alert As Rivers Swell

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A cloudburst in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand early Sunday triggered a landslide, killing two construction workers and leaving seven others missing
Heavy monsoon rains have brought devastation to parts of northern India, with a cloudburst killing two workers in Uttarakhand and red alerts issued across Himachal Pradesh as rivers rise dangerously and landslides disrupt life.
A cloudburst in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand early Sunday triggered a landslide, killing two construction workers and leaving seven others missing, officials said.
The incident occurred along the Yamunotri National Highway, where a group of 29 labourers was working on a hotel construction site. The cloudburst washed away nearly 10 metres of the highway and destroyed makeshift shelters.
Uttarakhand's Sailai Band Landslide Update | Rescue work is going on at war footing at the site of heavy rain (landslide) near Silai Band, about 4 km ahead of Yamunotri National Highway Paligad. Disaster relief teams like Police, Fire, SDRF, NDRF, Revenue, NH Badkot, Health… pic.twitter.com/4msa03s6C4 — ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2025
While 20 labourers were safely rescued, nine went missing in the debris. The bodies of two were later recovered on the banks of the Yamuna River, near Tiladi Shaheed Smarak, about 18 km from the site of the incident. All the workers are believed to be of Nepalese origin.
Following the incident, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for heavy rainfall on June 29 and 30 in several districts including Uttarkashi, Dehradun, Rudraprayag, Tehri, and Haridwar. Authorities have temporarily suspended the Char Dham Yatra for the safety of pilgrims.
Himachal Braces For More Rain As Rivers Rise
🚨 Red Alert in Himachal Pradesh! 🌧️Very heavy rain expected in next 24 hours.⚠️ Affected districts: Solan, Sirmaur, Kangra & Mandi.Avoid travel & stay alert!📞 For any emergency, contact:➡️ State Helpline: 1070➡️ District Helpline: 1077 pic.twitter.com/8J5YSsWDpH — HPSDMA (@HPSDMA) June 29, 2025
A landslide near Koti on the Shimla-Kalka highway (NH-5) caused hours-long traffic jams. In Baddi, the Bald River is in spate, and over 20 homes in Shivalik Nagar were flooded with water up to four feet. Poor drainage remains a persistent issue in the area.
A tin-sheet canteen on NH-5 near Waknaghat also collapsed, though no injuries were reported. It had already been vacated after an earlier landslide.
In Mandi district, water levels in the Juni Khad and Beas River have risen sharply. The Larji Dam underwent pre-monsoon flushing, and all five spillway gates of the Pandoh Dam were opened on Sunday.
Around 44,000 cusecs of water is now flowing in the Beas, increasing silt levels and forcing a temporary halt in power generation at the Dehar Power House.
🚨 Flash Floods in HimachalTorrential cloudbursts in Kullu's Sainj Valley trigger sudden surge in Jeeva stream, causing flash floods.⚠️ Multiple areas hit-Sainj, Jibhi, Tirthan. Authorities issue urgent alerts.🙏 Stay safe, check before travelling pic.twitter.com/NuNOulKDvM — Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) June 25, 2025
Across the state, 129 roads are closed and over 600 transformers are down, mainly affecting the Sirmaur and Mandi districts.
(With inputs from PTI)
First Published:
June 29, 2025, 22:33 IST