Munish Sood
MANDI: In the quiet hours of dawn, when most of Mandi slept under heavy rains, one family’s world crumbled under the weight of water and grief. What began as an attempt to save their modest livelihood turned into a catastrophe that took three lives and left a mother shattered beyond words.
Krishna Devi, a former municipal councillor of Mandi, is no stranger to serving people. But this time, fate turned its cruel face toward her own home.
At around 4 am, a sudden flash flood, triggered by relentless rains, struck the Jail Road area. The narrow drain behind Krishna’s house, once ignored and unseen, transformed into a violent stream of destruction. In those terrifying minutes, Krishna’s younger son Balbir Singh, daughter-in-law Sapna and grandson Amanpreet Singh (Sunny) were swept away as they tried to save Balbir’s auto-rickshaw — their only source of daily income.
Balbir, a quiet man known for his hard work, had supported his family for years by driving that auto through the winding streets of Mandi. Sapna, ever supportive, stood beside him. Amanpreet, young and full of life, had dreams still blooming. But the flood didn’t spare anyone. They were all gone — taken by water, in the blink of an eye.
Darshan Singh, Krishna’s elder son, too, was caught in the chaos. He was buried under debris, trapped in a shuttered area as the torrent of water and mud engulfed the surroundings. Neighbours and rescuers pulled him out, barely alive. He now lies in the emergency ward of the Regional Hospital in Mandi, fighting for life. His wife, Sapna, did not make it.
Outside the home, Krishna Devi stood in silence, her eyes searching for faces she will never see again. A mother who has lost her younger son, a daughter-in-law who was like a daughter, and a grandson she cradled as a baby — now only memories. Her frail shoulders now carry the unimaginable weight of survival.
In the chaos, a young girl — Krishna’s granddaughter — screamed through the rain, “My father is gone… my brother is gone… my mother is gone…” Her cries tore through the silence of the morning, shaking the hearts of all who heard. Moments later, she collapsed. Grief does that — it silences and screams at the same time.
Neighbours, local leaders and former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur have visited the family. Words of condolence were spoken. Promises of support were made. But can any words console a mother who has lit the pyres of her children?
Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan has confirmed the three deaths and declared that a relief camp has been set up at Vipasha Sadan. But for Krishna Devi, no relief camp can rebuild the home that has been washed away along with three lives.
