Munish Sood
MANDI:
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has expressed deep sorrow over the d*eath of Rahul Mandyal, a committed Youth Congress leader who was among the seven victims of the landslide at Jangambagh in Sundernagar sub-division of Mandi district.
In an emotional condolence message issued on Wednesday (September 3, 2025), the Chief Minister described the news of Rahul’s untimely demise as “extremely saddening and painful”. He said that Rahul’s passing is not only a profound personal loss for his family, but an irreparable loss to the entire Congress family and society at large.
“I pray to the Almighty to grant eternal peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family in this hour of grief,” Sukhu said, extending heartfelt condolences to Rahul’s loved ones.
Landslide claims seven lives, Congress worker among victims
The landslide struck Jangambagh late Tuesday night, flattening homes and burying residents under debris. Among the seven who lost their lives were Rahul Mandayal of Khatarwadi village, who was found inside a Tata Sumo that had been trapped under the rubble. Rescue teams recovered his body after hours of painstaking effort.
The other victims were Gurpreet Singh (Sonu), a local bus driver, his wife Bharti (28), daughter Kirit (3) and mother Surinder Kaur, all from a Sikh family whose house was completely buried. Prakash Sharma of Dadhyal and an elderly resident, Shanti Devi, also died in the landslide.
Rescue underway through the night
A massive overnight rescue operation involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), local police and the district administration managed to retrieve all seven bodies by Wednesday morning after nearly 16 hours of tireless work. Heavy machinery and cutting tools were used to reach the trapped individuals, some of whom were recovered from under rooftops and collapsed walls.
Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan and Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma personally monitored the rescue at the site. Sundernagar MLA Rakesh Jamwal visited the spot and assured full government assistance to the affected families.
Anger mounts over alleged negligence
While officials have termed it a natural calamity, locals blame reckless construction activity, particularly slope cutting and pipe-laying, for triggering the landslide. Residents alleged that excavation work was undertaken dangerously close to residential houses, despite warnings and ongoing monsoon conditions.
“This tragedy was avoidable. The work should have been delayed until after the rains. Now families have lost everything,” said local residents, demanding a probe and accountability from the concerned departments.
This incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of Himachal Pradesh’s fragile ecology, which continues to suffer under the dual pressures of natural calamities and unregulated construction. With over 341 deaths recorded this monsoon and property losses crossing Rs 3,500 crore, the state remains in the grip of an escalating environmental crisis.
