Munish Sood
MANDI:
A devastating cloudburst late Saturday (July 28, 2025) night unleashed deadly flash floods across Mandi city, leaving at least three persons dead and one missing, while widespread destruction gripped the Himachal district.
The disaster, which struck around midnight, turned several parts of the city into scenes of chaos, with water gushing through homes, sweeping away vehicles and triggering massive landslides that blocked key roads. Residents described the night as a “living nightmare”, with the sound of gushing water and falling debris echoing through the darkness.
Tragedy on Jail Road as Family swept away
The worst-hit was Jail Road where former municipal councillor Krishna lost her son and grandson in the sudden deluge. The family was swept away by a surge of rainwater that gushed through an overflowing roadside drain near their home. While two bodies have been recovered, her daughter-in-law remains missing, prompting ongoing search operations.
Localities such as Sai Mohalla, Tungol Mohalla and Jail Road were submerged under muddy floodwaters carrying debris, stones and even furniture. Residents had to be evacuated through windows and rooftops as lanes turned into violent streams. Authorities report at least 50 vehicles were either swept away or are buried in slush and rubble.
City cut off as roads collapse
The heavy rainfall triggered widespread landslides, severing national connectivity. Both NH-3 (Chandigarh-Manali) and NH-154 (Pathankot-Mandi) have been rendered impassable. Key sections like 4 Mile, 9 Mile, Dwara and Jhalogi lie under massive boulders and landslide debris. Even the usually resilient Suketi Khud stream turned into a force of destruction, carrying rocks and silt onto highways.
The Victoria Bridge area experienced a significant landslide, further hampering movement and isolating parts of the district.
Relief and rescue underway, weather still hostile
Rescue teams, including personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), local police and district administration, have been working relentlessly to clear debris and search for the missing. SP Sakshi Verma visited affected zones, coordinating operations from the ground.
Deputy Commissioner Rohit Rathore confirmed the occurrence of a possible cloudburst, citing how debris from upper slopes had flown down into low-lying urban areas. “We have reports of casualties and large-scale destruction. Rescue remains our top priority,” he stated.
Emergency shelters have been set up at Bipasha Sadan and relief camps are accommodating displaced families. Mayor Virender Bhatt along with local officials carried out site inspections early in the morning to assess damage and oversee aid distribution.
More rain forecast; district on high alert
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Mandi, warning of continued heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours. With the ground already saturated, officials fear further landslides and flash floods.
