Himachal weather: Torrential rains ravage cloudburst-hit Mandi’s Seraj & Thunag again, several parts completely cut off

TNR News Network
Mandi:
In a grim repeat of past devastation, relentless heavy rains have once again battered the Seraj and Thunag regions of Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh, previously reeling from cloudburst-related destruction.

With rivers and streams swelling dangerously and landslides being reported from multiple locations, the monsoon continues to tighten its grip on Himachal Pradesh under an ongoing orange alert issued by the Meteorological Department.

By 10 am on Tuesday (August 5, 2025), widespread disruption was reported across the state. As many as 453 roads, including four national highways, have been blocked while 753 power transformers and 276 water supply schemes have been affected. Mandi remains the hardest-hit district, with 318 roads blocked, 657 transformers damaged and 86 water systems down.

In Seraj, a fresh spell of intense rainfall has triggered flooding and landslides, cutting off road access and plunging the entire area into darkness due to power outages. Temporary culverts in the Bakhli Khad have been swept away, undoing a month’s worth of repair work by the Public Works Department.

Areas including Boongrail Chowk, Thunag Bazaar, Pakhrair, Murhag, Shikawari, Kanda-Bagsyad and over a dozen other panchayats have been severely impacted. In Thunag and Boongrail, debris from landslides has entered homes, posing significant danger to residents.

Janjehli completely cut off from rest of state

Meanwhile, the tourist town of Janjehli has been completely cut off from the rest of the state. Power supply remains down across the Seraj valley, plunging entire villages into darkness.

In Gohar subdivision, rising water levels in the Juni Khad have led to panic among locals in areas like Devidhar, Jahl, Karnala and Tunna, with residents evacuating their homes amid flood fears. The authorities have advised people, especially those living near riverbanks, to move to safer locations immediately.
Elsewhere, Kullu district has seen 67 roads closed, while Kangra reported disruptions to 120 water schemes. The state capital Shimla is witnessing continuous rainfall since early morning.

In Chamba, landslides on the Bharmour-Pathankot highway near Luna, Khadamukh and Kairu Hill briefly disrupted traffic before road clearance teams restored access. However, 14 link roads, 28 transformers and 42 water schemes remain affected. The Banjli-Charodi road in Churah has been shut for over a week, cutting off essential supplies to remote villages where food, LPG, and vegetables are running out. Fifteen vehicles remain stranded in the area.

Mandi receives 151.2 mm of rainfall

Overnight, Mandi recorded 151.2 mm of rainfall, with Baggi (104.8 mm), Sundernagar (84.1 mm), and Murari Devi (83 mm) among the highest. According to the IMD, rainfall is expected to persist until August 11, with an orange alert in place for several areas today and a yellow alert issued from August 6 to 11.

Since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, the state has reported 192 fatalities, including 81 deaths from road accidents, with 301 injuries and 36 persons still missing. A total of 1,990 homes and shops, 1,524 cattle sheds, and over 1,546 livestock have been lost. The cumulative loss has crossed Rs 1,753 crore.