Himachal Pradesh: 413 stranded pilgrims rescued in Kinnaur after cloudbursts wash away bridge

Indo-Tibetan Border Police used rope rescue traverse crossing technique to rescue pilgrims. (Photo: X/@ITBP_official)

Over 400 pilgrims have been rescued from the Kinnaur Kailash trek in Himachal Pradesh after flash floods and landslides caused by cloudbursts washed away two makeshift bridges on the trek route, stranding several tourists, NDTV reported.

Incidents of cloudbursts and heavy rains were reported in Kinnaur, with a bridge over the Tangling drain being washed away on Wednesday. As per the report, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) led the rescue operations, with some pilgrims being rescued via zipline.

On Wednesday morning, ITBP deployed a rescue team after the Kinnaur District Administration received a distress call about stranded pilgrims on the trek route. In total, 413 pilgrims have been rescued.

ITBP shared visuals from rescue operations on the social media platform X. In the videos, pilgrims can be seen ziplining and being moved to a safer location. ITBP used the rope rescue traverse crossing technique, as seen in one of the videos.

Responding to a requisition from DC Kinnaur, #ITBP has deployed a rescue team under AC/GD Sameer with mountaineering & RRC equipment after two makeshift bridges on the Kinner Kailash Yatra route were washed away due to incessant rains, leaving several yatris stranded.#Himveerspic.twitter.com/rjatUQeTEV

— ITBP (@ITBP_official) August 6, 2025

As per the report, mountaineering and RRC (Rope Rescue and Climbing) equipment, including essential gear for climbing, traversing glaciers, and performing rescue operations, like mountaineering boots, crampons, ice axes, ropes, harnesses, and crevasse rescue equipment, was sent off.