Severe monsoon conditions caused major disruption across parts of India on Friday.
Flash floods in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district and heavy rains in Mumbai led to road blockages, waterlogging, and tragic loss of life.
While Himachal Pradesh saw blocked highways and damaged roads, Mumbai faced strong winds, flooding, and a fatal accident after a tree fell on a school bus.
Flash Floods Hit Kinnaur, NH-5 Blocked
Early Friday morning, intense rainfall triggered flash floods in the Cholling area of Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh.
Around 4 am, heavy rain caused a surge in the Miru Nallah, sending water, debris, and large boulders onto the National Highway-5 (NH-5).
Nearly a 30-metre stretch of the highway was completely blocked, bringing traffic to a halt.
NH-5 is a crucial route connecting Kinnaur with other parts of Himachal Pradesh and the Indo-Tibet border region. Due to the blockage, long queues of vehicles were seen stranded on both sides.
In another incident, flash floods in the Ribba Khad area damaged parts of the Ribba–Kande link road, cutting off local connectivity. Some small vehicles were also damaged, but no casualties were reported.
Rescue Teams Deployed, Restoration Underway
Following the incidents, police, district officials, and disaster response teams rushed to the affected areas.
Heavy machinery was deployed to remove debris and reopen the blocked roads.
Authorities said restoration work was being carried out on a priority basis to restore normal traffic as soon as possible.
Kinnaur Superintendent of Police Sushil Kumar said the situation is being closely monitored and advised people to avoid unnecessary travel in vulnerable regions.
Mumbai Faces Waterlogging and Storm Damage
In Mumbai, heavy rainfall combined with strong winds caused widespread disruption across several areas.
In a tragic incident in Chembur, a large tree was uprooted by gusty winds and fell on a school bus carrying students from Universal High School and Tilak Nagar School.
Emergency teams and local residents used cutting tools to rescue trapped children.
However, 11-year-old Vihan Shrivastav lost his life due to injuries, while others were rescued from the scene.
Government Response and Weather Alert
Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar expressed grief over the incident and assured support for affected families. He also said action would be taken against responsible officials.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has upgraded Mumbai’s warning to an orange alert due to continued heavy rainfall.
Authorities have warned that more rain is expected in the next 24 hours.
Civic bodies have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel as emergency teams continue clearing debris and managing flood-affected areas across the city.
