August of both 2024 and 2025 saw significant flooding incidents across northern India, primarily due to excessive monsoon rainfall, cloudbursts, and overflowing rivers.
August 2025
The monsoon of August 2025 was particularly intense in the Himalayan and northwestern states, leading to widespread chaos from extreme rainfall.
- Himachal Pradesh: The state experienced over 300% more rainfall than the weekly average from August 28 to September 3, causing numerous landslides, blocking major roads, and damaging infrastructure.
- Uttarakhand: A devastating landslide-induced lake outburst on August 5, 2025, caused severe flash floods in the Dharali village in the Uttarkashi district, leading to at least 50 people going missing. Workers were also trapped in the Dhauliganga Power Project after a landslide blocked tunnels.
- Jammu and Kashmir: The region faced a series of cloudbursts, flash floods, and mudslides throughout the month. A massive cloudburst on August 15 alone killed at least 40 people in the Kishtwar district. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was also repeatedly blocked by landslides.
- Punjab: Widespread flooding occurred after the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers swelled due to heavy rain in their catchment areas in the upper Himalayas. The state received 74% more rain than normal in August, the highest in 25 years. The excess rainfall severely damaged crops in over 1,000 villages.
- Haryana: The state received 32% above-average rainfall in August, with parts of the state also affected by the flooding from rivers.
- Uttar Pradesh: By late August, the Ganga, Yamuna, and other rivers began to rise, flooding areas in Prayagraj and Varanasi. Schools were also closed in the region.
August 2024
Several northern states experienced heavy rainfall and flooding during August 2024.
- Uttar Pradesh: Heavy rains caused floods in 18 districts, including Ballia and Mau, affecting over 900 villages. Rivers like the Ghaghra and Saryu flowed above danger levels.
- Himachal Pradesh: Flash floods and landslides continued to impact Chamba, Mandi, Kinnaur, Shimla, Sirmaur, and Solan districts, blocking roads and disrupting power and water supply.
- Punjab: Villages were inundated by flood-like conditions for a second time in a month due to swollen rivers.
- Jammu and Kashmir: The Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage was suspended for a time in July and August due to damage to a national highway.
- Haryana: Several villages in the Yamunanagar district were inundated following a breach in the embankment of the Som river.