Munish Sood
MANDI: A sudden cloudburst over the Nandini nullah late last night triggered a destructive flash flood in Katwahi village under Nandi panchayat, leaving behind a trail of devastation. The floodwaters tore through industries, shops, and homes, while residents rushed to safety amid chaos.
The disaster inflicted severe economic damage on the village. A stone-cutting industry owned by Nirmal was completely washed away, with losses estimated at Rs 25 to 30 lakh.
Two shops belonging to Roop Lal, another shop owned by Krishan, and an industry run by Jai Singh were also hit badly. Shuttering material worth nearly Rs 2 lakh belonging to Param Dev was destroyed, while a car owned by Vishwanath was swept away by the strong current.
According to local authorities, immediate relief has been provided to the affected families, and detailed damage assessments are ongoing. The administration has assured that rehabilitation efforts are already in progress.
The district administration has sent a team of its official to access the damages due to the floods. It will submit its report soon.
Cloudbursts across Mandi
This latest disaster adds to a series of cloudburst-triggered flash floods that have repeatedly struck Mandi district over the past three months:
• June 30 to July 1, 2025: Multiple cloudbursts hit the Seraj region, leading to widespread destruction. At least 10 people lost their lives, while 34 were reported missing. Hundreds of homes and shops were damaged, roads were washed away, and rescue operations had to be launched on a large scale.
• July 2025: The district faced a spate of 10 cloudbursts within days, causing flashfloods, landslides, and infrastructure collapse. Several villages were cut off, while roads and bridges were extensively damaged.
• Mid-August 2025: Another cloudburst struck along the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway in Panarsa, Takoli and Nagwain. Flashfloods and landslides blocked the highway, inundated homes and fields, and stranded travelers overnight, though no casualties were reported.
Calls for permanent safeguards
With Katwahi now joining the list of affected villages, local residents have renewed their demand for permanent flood-control structures and embankments along vulnerable nallahs. Villagers stressed that without durable safety measures and early warning systems, such disasters will continue to endanger lives and property in Mandi district.
