Flash flood hits Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur, army launches high-altitude rescue

A sudden flash flood swept through Hojis Lungpa Nala in Kinnaur district on Tuesday evening, wreaking havoc at an ongoing CPWD road construction site towards Gangthang Bralam and leaving one person injured.

The deluge was triggered by a cloudburst in the higher reaches of the Rishi Dogri Valley, engulfing the bridge over the Sutlej River and putting workers and locals in immediate danger, according to ANI.

The Indian Army swept into action, deploying its New Generation Equipment, including the Logistics Drone High Altitude (LDHA) system, to reach stranded individuals.


Drones carried essential supplies—food and coconut water—across the floodwaters, while personnel guided civilians to safer, higher ground. The injured individual was evacuated to the Regional Hospital in Reckong Peo.

The flash flood in Kinnaur comes nearly two weeks after Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand was devastated by two cloudbursts, leaving behind deaths, destruction, and multi-day rescue operations. Authorities in Himachal Pradesh have issued warnings to residents in low-lying areas and construction zones, urging vigilance during heavy rainfall.

The state government confirmed that 566 people have been evacuated from Dharali and Harsil in Uttarkashi district till noon today, with nearly 300 more stranded individuals still awaiting rescue. The Indian Army had deployed dog squads, drones, and ground-penetrating radar to locate and evacuate people trapped in the flood-affected areas. Director General of Police (DGP) Deepam Seth visited Uttarkashi to oversee the ongoing relief and rescue measures.

Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami chaired a high-level meeting with senior officials from key rescue and security agencies to take stock of the situation and coordinate the ongoing operations in the rain-affected Uttarkashi district.