Munish Sood
MANDI:
A viral video from Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh has become a striking symbol of resilience amidst devastation, showing a local health worker risking her life to perform her duty even as roads and bridges lie damaged due to relentless monsoon rains.
The video, filmed at Garh Nullah in Sudhar panchayat of Chauhar Valley, captures Staff Nurse Kamla leaping across slippery boulders in a flooded stream. With the water roaring at full force, she is seen jumping from stone to stone, her medical kit clutched tight as she attempts to reach the Community Health Centre (CHC) where she is posted.
Speaking to locals later, Kamla, who hails from Tikkar village, explained why she had no option but to make the risky crossing. “The footbridges in the area have been washed away due to the recent heavy rains. To reach duty, I have to walk nearly 4 km daily. The only way forward is through this stream. If I don’t take this risk, patients at the health centre will suffer,” she said.
Her determination stands in sharp contrast to the crumbling infrastructure around her. In Chauhar Valley, at least six wooden footbridges have been swept away, forcing villagers to navigate raging streams on foot. The area’s remote location and poor connectivity have left both residents and government staff struggling for safe passage.
Roads and bridges in ruins
Kamla’s story is just one glimpse of the larger crisis gripping Mandi and Himachal Pradesh. The region has been battered by torrential rains, triggering flash floods and massive landslides that have crippled road connectivity and washed away bridges.
In Mandi district alone, over 170 roads blocked are blocked. The Chandigarh-Manali highway, a crucial economic and tourist artery, has been severely damaged at multiple points, particularly around Pandoh Dam, Takoli, Panarsa and Nagwain. Traffic has been diverted or stranded for hours, creating long snarls.
Adding to the crisis, 14 bridges in Mandi’s Thunag, Karsog and Gohar areas have been destroyed, cutting off villages and disrupting emergency relief. In the district headquarters, flashfloods around Victoria Bridge swept away over 20 vehicles and caused three fatalities.
The toll has been severe. In Mandi alone, officials confirm 78 deaths linked to landslides, house collapse and flashfloods in the past few weeks. Across Himachal Pradesh, dozens more lives have been lost, with several people reported missing.
