“It was like staring *death in the face,” says survivor as four labourers *die and six go missing in Kangra’s Khaniyara flashfloods
Pallavi Sharma
DHARAMSHALA: In a chilling account of survival, a power project worker from Himachal Pradesh recounted how he narrowly escaped death after being caught in a sudden cloudburst that triggered devastating flashfloods in the Khaniyara area of Dharamshala in Kangra district.
The flashflood swept through an under-construction hydropower site, claiming four lives and leaving six others missing.
The survivor, Lovely, a labourer from Chamba who was deployed at the site, described the terrifying moment that turned into a fight for survival.
“There was a sudden loud sound — like something had exploded. Within seconds, water started gushing in from every direction. It was pitch dark and the force of water was unbelievable. I didn’t stop to think. I just ran towards the forest. It felt like I was running for my life,” he said. “I still don’t know how I made it. Everything happened so fast. One moment, we were inside our shelter; the next, it was gone. My being alive is nothing short of a miracle.”
According to Kangra’s Additional District Magistrate Shilpi Beakta, initial reports had suggested that 15 to 20 labourers may have gone missing. However, these figures were later corrected. “We have confirmed reports of four fatalities and six workers still unaccounted for. Rescue operations are underway,” she said.
Labourers trapped in temporary shelter swept away by flashflood
The labourers, officials said, were staying in a temporary shed constructed on a dry stretch of the Manuuni stream, a location that proved fatal when the cloudburst struck on Wednesday night. The sudden surge of water demolished the structure and swept away everything in its path, including workers asleep inside.
Rescue teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), have so far recovered four bodies. Those who lost their lives have been identified as Chandan, son of Pradeep, resident of Sohanpur, Deoria district, Uttar Pradesh; Pradeep Verma, son of Ramkant Verma, also from Sohanpur; Chain Singh (20), son of Mulk Raj, from Kumadi Bhalla, Doda, Jammu & Kashmir, and Aditya Thakur, son of Shiv Kumar, resident of Rakh, Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh.
All the deceased were part of the construction workforce and had arrived from different parts of Chamba, Jammu and Uttar Pradesh. Officials say the six missing workers are feared to be trapped under debris carried downstream by the flashflood.
Cloudbursts reported in other districts too
The Khaniyara tragedy is part of a broader weather disaster sweeping across Himachal Pradesh. Multiple cloudbursts were reported across Kullu district, including Jeeva Nullah in Sainj valley, Shilagarh in Garhsa Valley, Snow Gallery area in Manali and Hornagarh in Banjar.
These cloudbursts led to significant damage. In Manali, four shops were completely damaged, while in Hornagarh, five houses became uninhabitable due to flooding and structural collapse. Eleven cows were swept away and 26 residents had to be evacuated to safety by emergency teams.
The Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority is coordinating with local administrations to monitor high-risk areas and assist with rehabilitation efforts. Authorities are also assessing infrastructure damage, particularly in areas where roads and small bridges have been washed out.
