BREAKING: Flash Flood Sweeps Away Workers at Hydro Project Site in Himachal – 2 Bodies Recovered, 5–10 Feared Missing

Dharamshala, June 25:
With the arrival of the monsoon, the devastation has begun to unfold across Himachal Pradesh. After heavy rains wreaked havoc in Kullu, the Kangra district has now come under nature’s fury. A flash flood struck near the Indira Priyadarshini Hydro Project at Sokni da Kot in Khaniyara, close to Dharamshala, on Wednesday, sweeping away several workers stationed at the project site.

Two bodies have been recovered so far, while 5 to 10 workers are feared missing. According to reports, around 600 labourers were on site at the time, working on laying pipelines along the hillside. Several workers’ shelters located near the Manuni stream (khad) were washed away by the sudden surge of water.

Following the incident, police and rescue teams immediately set out for the remote site on foot. However, limited connectivity in the area is hampering communication, and a full assessment of the situation is still awaited. It has been confirmed that around 350 workers are safe, while the search continues for the rest.

Rescue operations are underway on a priority basis, with State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams deployed at the scene.

Speaking to the media, Kangra SSP Shalini Agnihotri confirmed the incident and said the flash flood occurred on Wednesday afternoon. She stated that the missing workers were living in makeshift shelters by the stream, which were swept away in the sudden deluge.

She added that while two bodies have been recovered so far, rescue teams are still on-site, and poor mobile network coverage is delaying updates. A clearer picture is expected once teams return.

It’s worth noting that this is not the only area affected — Kullu district has also seen widespread destruction due to relentless rainfall since Tuesday night. Several streams and rivers are in spate, and the water flow on roads has been so intense that vehicles have been seen swept away like twigs.

Authorities have appealed to the public to stay away from rivers and streams, and to avoid unnecessary travel during this period of heightened risk.