Cloudburst in Kullu: Vehicles buried, roads washed away, highway shut in Himachal Pradesh

Heavy rainfall has caused devastation across Himachal Pradesh. Sunday morning brought torrential rains, wreaking havoc in the Takoli Vegetable Market and the Takoli four-lane area of Kullu, according to reports. The situation resembled a cloudburst, leaving scenes of destruction in its wake.

In some parts of the Aut Tehsil, sudden flood-like situations have been reported. Panarsa, Takoli, and Nagwain suffered extensive damage due to flash floods.

At the main vegetable market in Takoli, mud and debris swept inside, bringing trade to a complete standstill. Stocks of vegetables and fruits were destroyed, causing traders to incur losses running into lakhs of rupees. Farmers, too, voiced their anguish, saying that after toiling in their fields and transporting their produce to the market, everything was ruined by the deluge of mud and debris.

In the Takoli area, water and debris from a drain suddenly spilled over onto the Kiratpur–Manali four-lane road. Within moments, the entire road was blocked. From late night until Sunday morning, long queues of vehicles were stuck. Hundreds of passengers were stranded. Police and NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) teams worked through the night with JCB machines to clear the debris.

Moreover, due to heavy rainfall in the upper hills, large amounts of debris were washed down onto the highway. This led to flooding and mudslides in several homes and on roads, sweeping away multiple vehicles as well.

Traffic suspended on the Chandigarh–Manali National Highway

Due to landslides and debris flow, traffic movement on the Chandigarh–Manali National Highway has been suspended. Several landslide incidents have also been reported along the highway, worsening the blockage. Sudden flooding has caused extensive damage in Panarsa, Takoli, and Nagwain. Meanwhile, the administration has launched immediate relief and rescue operations.