A chilling video has emerged online, capturing the moments leading up to the collapse of the cofferdam at Part 12 of the Hydropower project in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district. Amid severe flooding, a section of the Malana Hydropower project succumbed to the pressure.
The incident sparked major concern for the downstream areas of the dam and triggered panic among residents living in those regions. The collapse of the dam led to a surge of water rushing downstream. The strong current from the abrupt waterfall swept away a Hydra crane, a dumper truck, and a rock breaker. Viral footage captured the sudden surge of water downstream, carrying with it a significant amount of debris from the site.
Worrisome visuals coming from Malana Power Project Himachal — river in full fury after heavy rain, multiple vehicles washed away! IMD has issued alert for heavy rains in the next 3–4 hours.
— Nikhil saini (@iNikhilsaini) August 1, 2025
Stay safe, stay alert! pic.twitter.com/YahzrpRYAk
According to media reports, no casualties have been reported. However, the sudden gush of water caused a notable rise in the water levels of the Parvati River, which eventually merges with the Beas River near Bhuntar, approximately 10 kilometers south of Kullu.
In a similar incident, Chandigarh-Manali National Highway (NH-3) was once again been blocked near the Pandoh Dam in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi after a landslide struck the area on Saturday morning.
The incident occurred around 4 AM, when large boulders and debris fell onto the road, severely damaging a stretch of the highway and causing visible cracks in the surface.
Vehicular movement was halted with all four-wheelers stopped on both sides of the highway in the morning, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded. While pedestrians are crossing the affected stretch on foot, risking their safety amid unstable conditions.
Second Landslide Within 24 Hours
This marks the second landslide at the same spot within 24 hours. On Friday, a similar incident occurred around 8 AM, leading to a nine-hour-long blockade, after which the traffic was restored only by 5 PM.
On Friday, Mandi Superintendent of Police (SP), Sakshi Verma, told ANI, “A landslide occurred here today. NHAI officials are here to clear it. At present, vehicular movement has been stopped from both sides. All efforts are being made to ensure vehicular movement.”
Meanwhile, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), as of 5 PM on August 1, 283 roads were blocked, 314 distribution transformers (DTRs) were disrupted, and 221 water supply schemes were non-functional due to relentless rainfall in the state.
Two national highways, NH-21 and NH-303, were also shut down, further paralysing movement in the state. The worst-hit districts in terms of road and power disruptions include Mandi (174 roads blocked), Chamba (171 DTRs disrupted), and Kullu (67 roads blocked).
Meanwhile, the monsoon death toll has risen to 173 across the state from June 20 to July 31, 2025. Of these, 95 deaths are directly attributed to rain-related incidents like landslides, flash floods, and house collapses. At the same time, 78 people died in road accidents, underlining the deadly impact of rain-induced road conditions.
