Himachal: 7 tourists from Punjab rescued after flash flood leaves their family stranded
Shashi Bhushan Purohit
Palampur (Kangra), July 5, 2026: Seven tourists from Punjab, including two children, were safely rescued after they became stranded due to a sudden surge in water levels at Neugal Khad, a popular tourist destination in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district.
The family, from Jalandhar, narrowly escaped tragedy after flash flooding swept away a temporary bridge, leaving them trapped on the opposite side of the gorge.
According to officials, the tourists had been staying at a nearby café for the past two days and were spending time near the stream on Saturday afternoon when water levels suddenly rose following the release of water from a nearby hydel project.
Although a warning siren was reportedly sounded before the water release, the visitors, unfamiliar with the local safety protocol, failed to recognise the alert. Within minutes, the fast-flowing water washed away the temporary crossing, cutting off the family’s escape route.
On receiving information about the incident, Palampur SDM Dr. O.P. Yadav rushed to the Fire Brigade office and accompanied the rescue team to the site.
Under the leadership of Fire Brigade Officer Surinder Kumar, rescuers carried out a challenging hour-long operation. Despite the dangerous conditions, the team constructed a temporary crossing and evacuated all seven tourists—including two men, three women and two children—to safety one by one.
No injuries were reported in the incident.