A sudden cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district created chaos in the early hours of Saturday, September 13. The incident took place around 3 am in Gutrahan village, which falls under the Naina Devi assembly constituency. Fortunately, no loss of life was reported, but several vehicles and farmlands were damaged.
Vehicles Buried, Roads Blocked
According to officials, four vehicles were buried under debris, while many farmlands were ravaged by flash floods triggered by the cloudburst. The gushing waters carried a huge amount of mud and stones, spreading destruction across agricultural land. Deputy Commissioner of Bilaspur, Rahul Kumar, confirmed that the extent of crop losses is being assessed. Relief measures will begin once the official report is ready.
The Public Works Department (PWD) has already started clearing debris to restore road connectivity at the earliest. Local eyewitness Kashmir Singh, a farmer, shared that the debris scattered across his fields, damaging crops and causing heavy losses.
Impact Beyond Bilaspur
In addition to Bilaspur, reports also emerged from Mamal and Kamlari villages in Chamba district, where water and debris entered houses, causing further damage. Meanwhile, in Mandi district’s Sapri Roh village, a landslide damaged roads and houses, forcing the evacuation of several families.
Across Himachal Pradesh, 577 roads were closed, including major national highways like the Attari-Leh stretch of NH-3, Aut-Sainj section of NH-305, and Amritsar-Bhota stretch of NH-503A.
Heavy Rain and Weather Alert
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain in isolated parts of the state for Saturday and Sunday. Several areas recorded significant rainfall, including Palampur (86 mm), Murari Devi (69.2 mm), Kangra (58.2 mm), Jogindernagar (45 mm), Naina Devi (16.6 mm), and Dharamshala (14.8 mm).
In Shimla, thick fog reduced visibility, adding to the challenges faced by commuters.
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Rising Rainfall and Seasonal Impact
This monsoon season, Himachal Pradesh has witnessed 43% more rainfall than average, worsening the situation across multiple districts. The overall death toll from rain and floods in the state has risen to 386 so far.
Meanwhile, the monsoon withdrawal is expected to begin around 15 September from western Rajasthan, slightly earlier than usual. India has already recorded 836.2 mm rainfall this year, 7% above normal, with northwest India receiving 34% excess rain. Experts note that over the past 50 years, the monsoon season has lengthened, delaying its withdrawal by about 1.6 days per decade.
Relief Measures Underway
Authorities in Bilaspur and other affected districts are working on damage assessment and relief distribution. Efforts are being made to clear blocked roads, restore traffic flow, and provide assistance to affected families.
While the Bilaspur cloudburst did not claim any lives, it highlights the growing impact of extreme weather events in the Himalayan region.
