Himachal: Cloudburst Triggers Floods In Kinnaur; Kailash Yatra Suspended, 413 Pilgrims Rescued

A cloudburst in Himachal’s Kinnaur triggered floods, prompting suspension of the Kinner Kailash Yatra. ITBP and NDRF teams rescued 413 stranded pilgrims using rope-based techniques.

Representative Image: ANI

A flood-like situation emerged in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district on Wednesday, following a cloudburst that triggered heavy rainfall and dangerous water flow in the region. As a precautionary measure, authorities have suspended the ongoing Kinner Kailash Yatra, a popular annual pilgrimage that attracts hundreds of devotees.

The incident comes just a day after a similar cloudburst in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district caused devastating flash floods, leaving at least four people dead and several others missing.

In response to the flash floods along the Kinner Kailash Yatra route, an Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) team from the 17th Battalion successfully rescued 413 stranded pilgrims using a rope-based traverse crossing technique. The operation was led by one Gazetted Officer, four Subordinate Officers, and 29 personnel from the ITBP, working in coordination with a 14-member team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

#WATCH | Himachal Pradesh | Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) team from the 17th Battalion has rescued 413 pilgrims using the rope-based traverse crossing technique, following a flash flood in the Tangling area along the Kinner Kailash Yatra route

The rescue operation is being… pic.twitter.com/EtshdR20D1

— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2025

Weather Fordcast For Himachal

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a weather warning at 6:30 AM today, forecasting light to moderate rainfall across most parts of Himachal Pradesh. Districts including Bilaspur, Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, and Mandi are likely to experience a few spells of intense to very intense rainfall over the next 3 to 4 hours.

Light to moderate rain is also expected in several other districts, including Chamba, Kangra, Hamirpur, Una, Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur, and Kullu.

Continuous heavy rainfall has severely impacted daily life in Shimla, prompting the closure of most educational institutions in the district.

According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), Himachal Pradesh has reported 194 deaths and a cumulative loss exceeding ₹1,85,251.98 lakh due to monsoon-related incidents between June 20 and August 5 this year.