Heavy rains, floods and landslides in Himachal PradeshCEFR B1
4 Jan 2026
Adapted from GV South Asia, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Hrishikesh Sarode, Unsplash
Over-construction in the Himalayas has increased the frequency of floods, cloudbursts and landslides. Heavy rains this year caused severe flooding in parts of Himachal Pradesh. The Mandi district was hit especially hard in June; the Himachal Pradesh Disaster Management Authority says about one third of the 173 people killed in the June floods were from Mandi. Flooding has recurred: in 2023 Shimla, Solan and Bilaspur saw erratic heavy rains, and in 2024 Kangra faced severe rains.
Personal stories show the scale of the damage. Balaram Singh lived in Thunag and had built his house away from the Beas river, but the village was engulfed in June. He lost his son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. Kamala Devi, 70, rebuilt a house after earlier damage but it was badly damaged again this year; her son, a taxi driver, lost his car and his livelihood. On June 30, Bhupendra Chauhan, 33, said water rose fast around his parked car; he saved his two children, aged 3 and 9, and the family spent the night in an uncle’s house.
Search and rescue continued until July using drones and sniffer dogs. Health workers report rising post-traumatic stress symptoms such as disrupted sleep and increased anxiety during rain. Experts link much of the damage to unplanned construction in river and floodplain zones. Material relief arrived: the Indian army assisted and state and national leaders announced funds. A 2024 action plan on climate change and mental health was launched, but its effects are not yet clear on the ground.
Difficult words
- over-construction — building too much in one area
- cloudburst — a sudden very heavy rainstormcloudbursts
- landslide — a mass of earth falling down a slopelandslides
- engulf — to cover or surround completely with somethingengulfed
- livelihood — a way to earn money for living
- sniffer dog — trained dogs that find people or objectssniffer dogs
- post-traumatic stress — mental health problems after a very scary event
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How can building in river and floodplain zones increase flood damage in a town?
- What kinds of help are most important for families who lose homes and livelihoods after a flood?
- What local steps could people or leaders take to reduce flood risk in your area?
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