Himalayan Nallahs Experience Unprecedented Flooding Amid Scorching Heat
Himalayan Nallahs Experience Unprecedented Flooding Amid Scorching Heat
IN · Published Jul 10, 2026
The Jahlma Nallah in the Lahaul Himalayas has been experiencing dramatic diurnal flooding under intense sunlight, a phenomenon that has persisted for five consecutive years.
This flooding occurs without rainfall or glacial lake outbursts, making it a unique and poorly understood event.

Impact & Risks

The flooding of Jahlma Nallah has cut off connectivity for hundreds of villages, including Lindur, Jahlma, and Jasrath, during their peak agricultural season. Farmers face immense economic losses as their harvested crops, such as cauliflowers and peas, risk spoiling due to transportation delays. The floods have also caused land subsidence, damaged homes, and destroyed irrigation infrastructure. The collapsed bridge across Jahlma Nallah has left communities stranded, forcing them to use unsafe alternatives like ziplines or heavy machinery to cross the stream. The phenomenon poses long-term risks to the region's stability, with melting permafrost and destabilized rock glaciers threatening further erosion and debris flows.

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