Critical infrastructure damaged as relentless rains lash the region
Munish Sood
Mandi:
The picturesque district of Mandi in Himachal Pradesh is facing one of its most severe weather crises in recent memory, as continuous rainfall since Monday triggered a series of flash floods, landslides, and cloudbursts across multiple sub-divisions. The extreme weather event has led to widespread destruction, with homes swept away, roads cut off, and communication lines severely disrupted.
According to the latest report issued by the district administration at 9:00 AM Tuesday, 261 roads have been rendered impassable, and over 1,700 power transformers are currently non-functional, plunging large parts of the region into darkness.
Human Tragedy Unfolding
Within just 12 hours, one fatality has been confirmed, while at least 18 individuals remain missing, many feared trapped under debris or swept away by the gushing waters. Entire families have been affected, with rescue teams working round-the-clock to locate survivors.
The Karsog sub-division has emerged as the worst-hit area, where one person has died and four others are untraceable. In Syanj village (Gohar sub-division), nine members of a single family are missing following a landslide. Seraj’s Bara and Talwara villages also reported missing persons, though four individuals from Bara and one child from Talwara have been safely rescued in a dramatic overnight operation.
Rescue and Relief Operations Intensified
With the situation rapidly escalating, teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed across vulnerable zones. Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan is personally monitoring the relief efforts, visiting ground-zero sites like Bara and Talwara to coordinate rescue and aid delivery.
In the town of Mandi, 11 residents have been evacuated from flood-prone areas. At Jail Road, several vehicles were washed down slopes due to road erosion, and water even reached the Panchvaktra Temple courtyard during the night. Fortunately, water levels have now begun to recede, aided by reduced rainfall in nearby Kullu.
However, the Chandigarh–Manali National Highway, a vital arterial road, has remained shut for over 15 hours, severely impacting connectivity. Waterlogging in the Palace Colony area of Sadar sub-division forced 11 people to be relocated to a relief camp near Beas Sadda.
Cloudbursts, Landslides Add to the Misery
The situation turned more grave with multiple cloudbursts reported from rural areas. In Siwali village (Sundernagar sub-division), two homes were completely washed away, leaving nine people missing. In Baga village, six were trapped under a collapsed house; four have been rescued while the search continues for two others.
In Talluwa village, three family members are missing, while a young girl was pulled out alive from the rubble. The Thunag sub-division has been cut off from mobile and internet networks due to damaged infrastructure. An SDRF team has been dispatched to restore basic communication.
Meanwhile, in the Kuti region of Karsog, seven people stranded near a flooded riverbank are being rescued by NDRF teams. In the old market area, one body has been recovered and four people remain missing. Evacuation efforts also continue at Rikky, where seven were rescued, and at the Government Degree College in Karsog, from where 12 girl students and four women were safely moved out.
Loss of Livestock and Damage to Rural Infrastructure
The destruction hasn’t been limited to humans. In Dharampur sub-division, cloudbursts in Laugani and Syadi villages resulted in the collapse of two homes and five cattle sheds, leading to the deaths of 26 animals, including goats, mules, and a cow. Though there was no human loss here, the incident underlines the economic impact on rural households.
In Bhadyara village, four more homes and three cattle sheds were reduced to rubble. At Mangalore Bridge in Ballchowki sub-division, flash floods damaged one of the retaining walls, necessitating urgent repairs.
Passengers Stranded in Tunnels, Highway Damage Reported
Passengers traveling along the Chandigarh–Manali Highway found themselves trapped inside tunnels 11 and 13 as torrential rains blocked exit points. District authorities have arranged food and water for those stranded. The under-construction highway between Kotli and Dharampur has also suffered multiple landslides, further delaying relief logistics.
Administration on High Alert, Public Advised to Stay Indoors
With weather warnings still in place, the Mandi district administration has issued an advisory urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel, stay indoors, and cooperate with emergency personnel. Officials confirmed that rescue, restoration, and relief operations will continue non-stop until all missing persons are accounted for and essential services restored.
As Himachal Pradesh stares at another monsoon-induced crisis, questions are once again being raised about disaster preparedness in the hill states and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events—perhaps a wake-up call for long-term climate resilience planning.
