Cloudburst dashes away part of Leh-Manali Highway, blocks entire route; video surfaces

New Delhi: A Horrific incident has come to light from Himachal Pradesh where a major section of the Leh-Manali national highway was severely damaged and rendered impassable after a sudden and intense cloudburst struck the region between Dhundi and Palchan in Manali town on Wednesday evening. It resulted in the disruption of traffic flow from Rohtang Pass to Lahaul and Spiti and consequently left hundreds of individuals, including numerous tourists, stranded due to the forced closure of the highway.

Cloudburst destruction

In the aftermath of the cloudburst, the surging waters of the Anjani Mahadev Nala swept away two houses, while no fatalities or human casualties have been reported so far. Additionally, a nearby hydropower project suffered damage resulting from intense flooding triggered by the cloudburst, further exacerbating the impact of the natural disaster on the affected area.

Officials rush to flood-affected area

Subdivisional Magistrate of Manali, Raman Kumar Sharma with other officials reached the site of the cloudburst and advised people living near Anjani Mahadev Nala to stay attentive. 

In response to the highway damage, teams from the Public Works Department and the National Highway Authority of India were promptly deployed to undertake repair works and establish a temporary alternative route, providing a vital lifeline for the stranded individuals and facilitating their safe passage. 

Video surfaces on social media

A user of the X platform named Nikhil Choudhary shared a video of a cloudburst incident. He captioned, "A cloud burst in Anjani Mahadev nala in #Manali, Manali-Leh road closed due to debris falling on the road and some part of the road was also swept in the heavy flow of water."

A cloud burst in Anjani Mahadev nala in #Manali, Manali-Leh road closed due to debris falling on the road and some part of the road was also swept in the heavy flow of water. pic.twitter.com/VdmoWCobUL

— Nikhil Choudhary (@NikhilCh_) July 25, 2024

Heavy rainfall warning issued for several regions

The India Meteorological Department has issued a warning for intense rainfall in certain regions of the states, with the alert remaining in effect until July 31. This indicates a continued risk of heavy precipitation over the next few days.

Several regions received substantial rainfall, with precipitation levels reaching 68.0 mm in Palampur, 44.0 mm in Dhaula Kuan, 42.6 mm in Naina Devi, 35.4 mm in Dharamshala, 25.0 mm in Dalhousie, 24.8 mm in Shimla, and 22.0 mm in Chamba, indicating a widespread and significant rain event across the region on Wednesday night.