A cloudburst occurred in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district on Friday, August 8, 2025, as the state grapples with an intense monsoon season. The incident took place in Sharod Nallah, in the Jari sub-tehsil, around 5:35 PM. Resulting from the cloudburst, the water level in the adjacent Barogi Nala rose.

The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) in Kullu reported that the situation is under control, and there have been no casualties or injuries. Local authorities, including officials from the Public Works Department and Fire Station Jari, have verified the rapid increase in water levels due to the heavy rainfall in the region.

This cloudburst is part of the ongoing monsoon activity affecting Himachal Pradesh, which has led to flash floods, landslides, and widespread damage in several districts. As of Friday, 357 roads were blocked, 599 power distribution transformers were out of service, and 177 water supply schemes were disrupted in the state. Tragically, Himachal Pradesh has witnessed 208 monsoon-related deaths this year, with 112 attributed to natural disasters like landslides and floods and over 90 to road accidents.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted continued rainfall in the coming days. An orange alert is in effect for August 11 and 12 for several districts, with a yellow alert issued for others. These alerts warn of the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall in certain areas. Specifically, a yellow alert has been issued for several districts including Shimla, Mandi, Solan, and Sirmaur for August 9.

The cloudburst in Kullu occurred just over a week after a similar incident in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district, where five people died and many more went missing. Over 100 people are still missing after mudslides triggered by the cloudburst swept away buildings, shops, and roads in the Kheer Gadh area.

Earlier in the week, another cloudburst in the Rampur area of Shimla district caused a flash flood in the Teklech market on Wednesday night. While there were no casualties, nearby houses were evacuated as a precaution. Landslides resulting from the heavy rains had led to the closure of 496 roads, including the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway.

The IMD has reported that rainfall in Himachal Pradesh during August is 35% above normal, with some districts recording almost double their average rainfall. From June 1 to August 8, the state has received 13% more rainfall than the seasonal average.

The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) reports that Himachal Pradesh has recorded 194 deaths and suffered cumulative losses exceeding ₹1,85,251.98 lakh during the monsoon season from June 20 to August 5. Of these, 108 deaths were directly linked to rain-triggered incidents.

Given the ongoing monsoon season and the heightened risk of heavy rainfall, residents and tourists in Himachal Pradesh are advised to remain vigilant and follow safety guidelines issued by local authorities.