Munish Sood
MANDI: Over the past two months, the Mandi city in Himachal Pradesh has endured unprecedented devastation. Between June 29 and mid-August, floods struck three times, each leaving behind scenes of destruction and despair. While lives and property suffered heavily, the greatest public outcry came from the sudden collapse of the town’s lifeline — the drinking water supply.
At the centre of this crisis stood Rohit Gupta, Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of the Himachal Pradesh Jal Shakti Department in Mandi. A native of the town himself, Gupta became the face of both hope and frustration. For the last 50 days, he has worked 15 to 18 hours daily, battling collapsed pipelines, broken pumping stations, angry citizens and his own deteriorating health, only to ensure that water continues to reach Mandi’s households.
Spending sleepless nights on roads to repair system
The June 29-30 floods wreaked havoc on every single water supply scheme feeding Mandi and its surrounding areas. Overnight, a bustling city plunged into a crisis.
“People were desperate and their only question was when will the water come back? I had no answer. But I knew one thing that we had to restore water, whatever it takes, even if it meant sleepless nights on the roads,” Gupta recalls.
With five junior engineers, departmental staff and more than 200 workers from across the region, Gupta led a massive repair effort, often coordinating personally at each site where pipelines were being welded, sources tapped or pumping stations revived.
The effort came at a personal cost. Over the past seven weeks, Gupta has been rushed to doctors at least four times, complaining of chest pain, fatigue, dizziness and dangerously high blood pressure. His latest reading stood at 108/158.
Ignoring advice of doctors to rest
Doctors advised immediate rest. But Gupta brushed aside the recommendation. “If I sleep, the town’s water crisis will only get worse,” he said, choosing instead to return to the field.
Each day, Gupta drives 20 to 25 km across the town and its peripheries, inspecting sites where pipes are laid, pumps repaired or sources restored. Beyond physical supervision, he remains in constant liaison with contractors, engineers, pump operators, welders, outsourced companies, ward councillors and senior officers.
Equally crucial is his round-the-clock coordination with water supply operators, ensuring equitable distribution across neighbourhoods with limited resources. And while managing this herculean task, Gupta shoulders yet another responsibility — providing real-time updates to his superiors in the department.
SDO often facing anger and abuse
Despite his commitment, Gupta has often found himself at the receiving end of public anger. Frustrated residents call him late at night, venting their rage, sometimes even hurling abuses. “No day passes without someone lashing out,” he admits.
On social media, too, he has faced trolling and criticism. Yet, Gupta has chosen silence over confrontation. “People don’t see the struggles behind the scenes. My focus is to work, not to argue,” he says.
Today, Mandi’s water supply has been partly stabilised, though challenges remain. But behind every drop that reaches homes lies the unseen labour of Gupta and his team.
“He is an unsung hero, a man who ignored his own health, endured criticism and stood tall amid disasters, simply because he understood the people’s pain. Recognition may or may not follow, but for the citizens of Mandi, the silent service of Rohit Gupta has been nothing short of lifesaving,” said a resident.
