Monsoon Havoc in Baddi-Barotiwala: Roads Submerged, Connectivity Hit

Baddi, June 30, 2025:

The first monsoon downpour wreaked havoc in the Baddi-Barotiwala region on Sunday, with relentless rainfall from 1 AM to 7 AM leading to widespread waterlogging, damage to property, and major traffic disruptions. Several homes, colonies, and shops were flooded, and electricity supply was disrupted in parts of the area.

A critical culvert near the truck union in Barotiwala collapsed, severing connectivity to HIMUDA Colony, Bagguwala, and the industrial zone. Locals complain that the same culvert breaks every year but authorities fail to provide a permanent fix.

In Jharman Majri, water entered homes near SBI Bank, while Baddi Housing Board Colony and shops on Sai Road were also submerged, causing damage to property and goods. Water flow on Baddi-Barotiwala road halted traffic for hours, with key areas like Burawala, Kundlas Chowk, Milestone Factory, and Shivalik Nagar severely affected.

The Charniya-Kiratpur road faced major disruption due to overflow from a temporary bridge over a local stream, halting traffic for over 5 hours. Two main PWD roads were closed, and rivers like Sarsa and its tributaries—Ratta, Manpura, Sandoli, Balad, and Baddi—remained in spate. As water levels recede, illegal mining activity is reportedly resuming in riverbeds.