Cloudburst in Churah severely disrupts road connectivity in Chamba District

Subhash Mahajan

Chamba: A powerful cloudburst struck the Churah constituency in Chamba district, causing major infrastructure damage along the Nakarod-Chanju road near the Bagheigarh stream. The iron bridge over the stream was completely washed away, and a large portion of the road was destroyed, bringing traffic to a standstill on both sides.

The affected route serves as a crucial lifeline for local communities. As a result of the disruption, four gram panchayats—Charra, Chanju, Dehra, and Bagheigarh—have been entirely cut off from vehicular access. The loss of road connectivity has raised serious concerns about the mobility of residents, particularly in terms of medical emergencies, supply of essential goods, and communication with nearby towns.

Local authorities have confirmed the extent of the damage and are currently working to deploy emergency response teams. However, challenging terrain and continuous rainfall have hampered immediate repair efforts. Eyewitnesses report that the sudden surge of water due to the cloudburst gave little warning, with the iron bridge being swept away in a matter of minutes.

Residents of the affected panchayats have urged the district administration to expedite relief and reconstruction measures. The region is prone to such extreme weather events, and officials are being urged to implement long-term infrastructure planning, including reinforced bridges and early warning systems.

As monsoon activity intensifies across Himachal Pradesh, the incident in Churah highlights the growing vulnerability of remote Himalayan regions to climate-induced disasters. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and have advised residents to remain cautious and avoid travel along vulnerable routes.