Severe cloudbursts in Himachal Pradesh triggered flash floods on Wednesday, leaving two people dead and over ten missing across Kangra and Kullu districts. According to officials, the deceased were workers at a hydroelectric project near Dharamshala in Kangra. Multiple incidents of cloudbursts were reported in Banjar, Gadsa, Manikaran, and Sainj areas of Kullu district, causing widespread damage and sweeping away homes, roads, and vehicles. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have launched rescue operations in the affected regions.

Authorities have suspended all water sports activities in Kullu, while several bridges and roads were damaged or washed away, cutting off access to remote villages. In Manikaran valley, a cloudburst in the Brahmaganga area caused a sharp rise in river levels, leading to debris entering residential homes and displacing families. A temporary bridge over the Parvati River collapsed, isolating Baladhi village. In Lahaul’s Udaipur subdivision, a flash flood blocked the Chokhang–Nainghar road, stranding vehicles and damaging infrastructure.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for intense rainfall across several districts including Kullu, Kangra, Mandi, and Shimla. In response, the Himachal Pradesh Police Headquarters has activated emergency protocols, urging the public to avoid travel and remain cautious near riverbanks and hillsides. MLA Sudhir Sharma confirmed that around 15 hydro project workers were swept away in Kangra. Road repair efforts are underway, but weather forecasts indicate continued rainfall till July 1, increasing risks of further landslides and flash floods.