Floods Trap Pilgrims; Yatra Halted

The Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh witnessed flood fury after a cloudburst on Wednesday (August 6). The Kinner Kailash Yatra has been suspended as a precautionary measure.

The Indo-Tibetan Border

Police rescued 413 stranded pilgrims via zipline after a bridge at Kangrang Nallah was washed away. Reports said at least have died.

#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

Dr Amit Kumar Sharma, District Commissioner of Kinnaur, said NH-05 was blocked with muck and boulders due to a cloudburst in Raldang Khad near Ribba. Over 400 pilgrims were rescued by ITBP and NDRF, he said in a post on X.

"400+ pilgrims were rescued after a washed-away bridge at Kangrang Nallah, during Kinner Kailash Yatra. Area was pitch dark with only portable lights, this 9+ hrs

operation was powered by pure commitment. Salute to ITBP and NDRF for this incredible overnight operation."

400+ pilgrims were rescued after a washed-away bridge at Kangrang Nallah, during Kinner Kailash Yatra. Area was pitch dark with only portable lights,this 9+ hrs operation was powered by pure commitment.
Salute to @ITBP_official & @NDRFHQ for this incredible overnight operation.???? pic.twitter.com/tGA8eeduMa

— DC Kinnaur (@DCKinnaur) August 5, 2025

This comes a day after a cloudburst in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi caused flash floods yesterday, killing at least five people.

The India Meteorological Department said light to moderate rainfall is very likely to occur at most places, and a few spells of intense to very intense rainfall are very likely to occur at a few places in the Districts of Bilaspur, Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, and Mandi. It added light to moderate rainfall is very likely to

occur at many places in the districts of Chamba, Kangra, Hamirpur, Una, Lahul and Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu.

Also, Chandigarh-Manali National Highway remains closed due to heavy rainfall and landslides between Mandi and Kullu.

The Mandi district received more than 179 mm of rainfall between August 4 and 5 with landslides and flash floods battering the region, the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) said.

The SEOC said out of the 449 roads closed on August 6, 295 are in Mandi district and 90 in Kullu district.

Mandi-Dharampur road (NH 3) and Aut to Sainj road (NH 305) are blocked due to landslides following flash floods in Ribba nallah in Kinnaur district.

The meteorological department has issued a yellow warning for heavy trains in isolated areas in two to three districts on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Since the onset of monsoon on June 20, the state has incurred losses totalling Rs 1,852 crore till date. Around 108 people have died in rain-related incidents while 36 are missing.

Additionally, 360

power distribution transformers and 257 water supply schemes have been affected, the SEOC added.