Munish Sood
Mandi : A sudden cloudburst late Monday night triggered flash floods and landslides across Mandi district, leaving several areas inundated and dozens stranded. Among the most heroic responses came from the Mandi Sadar Police team, which rescued 12 people trapped in Raghunath ka Padhar village under extreme conditions.
As floodwaters surged through the village, cutting off access routes and submerging homes, the police team launched a midnight rescue operation. Leading from the front, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Mandi Sadar Police displayed extraordinary courage by physically carrying stranded individuals—some elderly and unable to walk—on his back to safer ground.
The operation, conducted in pitch darkness and amid rising water levels, lasted several hours. According to officials, the rescued included women and children who had taken shelter on rooftops and higher ground after their homes were flooded.
Visuals of the SHO wading through waist-deep water with people on his back have gone viral, drawing widespread praise for the police force’s bravery and compassion. “We didn’t think we’d make it out alive,” said one of the rescued villagers. “The SHO sir carried my grandmother like she was his own.”
The rescue was part of a broader emergency response across Mandi, where multiple cloudbursts have caused widespread damage. Roads remain blocked, and the Beas River continues to swell dangerously. Authorities have issued a red alert and urged residents to avoid low-lying areas.
The Himachal Pradesh government has commended the Mandi Sadar Police for their swift and selfless action. Relief efforts are ongoing, with SDRF teams deployed across the district.
