A sudden rise in glacier meltwater triggered a flash flood-like situation in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district, damaging a key road and leaving more than 50 tourist vehicles stranded, officials said.

The incident occurred on Monday afternoon at Jhalma Nallah, where a sudden surge in water flow washed away a portion of the road connecting the remote region. Authorities said no rainfall had been reported in the area, indicating that the sudden increase in glacier meltwater was responsible for the incident.

According to Lahaul-Spiti Superintendent of Police Shivani Mehla, more than 50 tourist vehicles were stranded after the swollen nallah damaged the road stretch. However, no casualties or injuries have been reported so far.

Restoration work underway

Officials said restoration work on the affected stretch was immediately taken up, with teams working to restore connectivity and facilitate the safe evacuation of stranded tourists.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), along with the local administration, has launched emergency repair operations and expressed confidence that the road link would be restored at the earliest. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.

The flash flood-like event temporarily disrupted traffic movement and cut off road access in the area. Similar weather-related disruptions have affected parts of Himachal Pradesh in recent days, with flash floods and heavy rainfall impacting road connectivity in several districts.

Delhi has experienced its warmest summer nights in four years during the ongoing pre-monsoon season, according to weather department data, even as the southwest monsoon is yet to reach the national capital.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Delhi recorded an average minimum temperature of 22.9 degrees Celsius between March and June, making it the warmest pre-monsoon night-time season since 2022.

The data highlights a period of persistently warm nights across the city, despite occasional spells of rainfall and thunderstorms witnessed during the season.

Monsoon yet to reach Delhi

The southwest monsoon, which normally arrives in Delhi around June 27, has missed its usual onset date this year. Weather officials have indicated that the monsoon is now likely to reach the city during the first week of July.

The delayed onset comes as several parts of the country continue to receive widespread rainfall under active monsoon conditions.

Rain alerts issued in several states

The weather department has issued heavy rainfall warnings for multiple states, including Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan. Authorities have advised residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert and follow local advisories amid forecasts of intense rainfall in some regions.

Meteorologists expect weather conditions to remain favourable for further advancement of the southwest monsoon over additional parts of north India in the coming days.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was on Monday formally reappointed as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Rajya Sabha after taking oath as a member of the Upper House following his re-election.

Kharge’s previous term as a Rajya Sabha member ended on June 25. Following his re-election to the Upper House from Karnataka, Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan accorded recognition to him as the Leader of Opposition with effect from June 26.

The Congress veteran took oath as a Rajya Sabha member in the Chairman’s chamber on Monday. The oath ceremony marked the beginning of his fresh term in the Upper House.

Recognition effective from June 26

According to a bulletin issued by Rajya Sabha Secretary-General P C Mody, Kharge ceased to hold the office of Leader of Opposition after the expiry of his earlier Rajya Sabha term on June 25. Following his re-election, he was once again recognised as the Leader of Opposition under the provisions of the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977.

Kharge had earlier been elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka during the recent biennial elections to the Upper House.