In the quiet, mountainous reaches of Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district, tragedy struck in the early hours of September 9, 2025. At approximately 1:30 am, a landslide—triggered by relentless monsoon rains and, according to local officials, possibly a cloudburst—tore through Sharmani village in the Nirmand subdivision. The disaster crushed two homes, burying eight members of a family beneath a sudden avalanche of mud and debris. By dawn, five were confirmed dead, and three others had been pulled from the wreckage with serious injuries.
The deceased—Bresti Devi (50), her son Chunni Lal (32), daughter-in-law Anju Kumari (25), and grandchildren Bhupesh (5) and Jagriti (8)—were all members of a single extended family. The survivors, Shiv Ram (52), his brother Dharam Das (48), and Kala Devi (45), were hospitalized in Nirmand, as reported by The Tribune. Shiv Ram, who had been sleeping in the verandah, managed to survive the collapse, a small mercy in an otherwise devastating event.
According to Hindustan Times, villagers were the first responders, scrambling in the darkness to rescue those trapped. Ghatu panchayat president Bhoga Ram, alerted around 2 am, rushed to the scene and immediately notified district authorities. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and the district administration joined the villagers, launching a rescue and relief operation that continued into the following day. The urgency was palpable. In the words of Sub-Divisional Magistrate Manmohan Singh, “The relief and rescue operation was being carried out on a war-footing.”
As a precautionary measure, three nearby houses—deemed vulnerable due to the saturated, unstable ground—were evacuated, and residents were advised to seek shelter elsewhere. The sense of panic and vulnerability in the village was unmistakable. “The tragedy is deeply painful and the state government stands in full solidarity with the affected family,” Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said, as quoted by Hindustan Times. He also directed that proper medical treatment be provided to the injured.
This single event is part of a much larger crisis unfolding across Himachal Pradesh. Since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, 2025, the state has reported 378 deaths—213 of them linked to rain-related incidents like landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, and lightning strikes, according to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). Kullu district alone has witnessed 24 rain-related fatalities this year, with the toll from 23 separate landslides now reaching 20. The financial cost is staggering: losses are estimated at Rs 4,156 crore, as reported by the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC).
The infrastructure damage has been equally severe. As of September 10, 2025, 684 roads—including four national highways—remained blocked due to landslides and flooding. Kullu district accounted for 214 of these closures, with Mandi, Shimla, and Chamba also heavily affected. National highways such as NH-305, NH-03, and NH-05 were among those rendered impassable, forcing traffic diversions and isolating some communities. In addition, 1,202 power transformers and 423 water supply schemes were disrupted, compounding the hardships for residents.
In response to the widespread devastation, authorities have taken several emergency measures. The deputy commissioner of Kullu ordered all schools and Anganwadi centers in Banjar and Manali subdivisions closed on September 10 and 11, while schools in the Jari sub-tehsil and Kullu subdivision were shut for at least one day. This move was intended to keep children safe and reduce travel on hazardous roads. Meanwhile, the Public Works Department (PWD) minister, Vikramaditya Singh, flagged off 35 newly procured vehicles—worth about ₹3.5 crore—to assist in restoration efforts, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach areas. “These vehicles are being released at a time when rescue and restoration work is ongoing across the state. But I am also deeply saddened that during these operations, two of our PWD operators lost their lives in the line of duty. We stand with their families and will extend full support,” Singh told reporters in Shimla.
Efforts to assess the full extent of the damage are underway. An inter-ministerial central team visited the disaster-affected areas of Banjar and Mandi on September 9 and 10, inspecting collapsed buildings, damaged infrastructure, and disrupted water supplies. Their presence underscored the seriousness of the situation and the need for coordinated relief and rehabilitation.
The weather, unfortunately, offers little respite. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued rainfall in Himachal Pradesh in the days ahead, with a yellow alert for heavy rainfall issued for Una, Bilaspur, Kangra, and Sirmaur districts on September 13. Thunderstorms and lightning are also expected, raising fears of further landslides and flooding. Light to moderate rain was observed in many places on September 9 and 10, but isolated heavy showers have the potential to trigger more disasters, especially in already saturated soils.
In the wake of so much loss, expressions of solidarity and support have poured in. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri both issued statements of condolence, promising that the government “stands in solidarity with the affected families and will provide all possible assistance.” The 14th Dalai Lama, a long-time resident of Dharamshala, wrote to the chief minister expressing his sadness at the “unprecedented destruction of property and infrastructure in several parts of the state due to extremely heavy monsoon rains this year.” He added, “I would like to offer my prayers and condolences to you, to the families who have lost loved ones, and to everyone affected by this natural disaster.” The Dalai Lama Trust pledged a donation to relief efforts, a gesture reflecting his deep connection to the state and its people.
Further afield, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced a Rs 5 crore relief package for Himachal Pradesh, as reported by Times of India. Such gestures highlight the broader sense of community and shared responsibility in the face of natural calamities that often transcend state boundaries.
For the villagers of Sharmani and the countless others affected across Himachal Pradesh, the road to recovery will be long and arduous. Rescue teams remain on high alert, and emergency personnel continue to work around the clock, but the scars—both physical and emotional—will linger. As the monsoon season drags on, the people of Himachal Pradesh brace for whatever nature may bring next, holding fast to the hope that relief and restoration will come swiftly and that their mountain home will endure.