Torrential rains unleashed chaos across Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, with Mandi district bearing the brunt of extreme weather events, including multiple cloudbursts, flash floods, and a significant landslide. Official reports confirm five deaths and 16 people still unaccounted for, as emergency teams scramble to contain the devastation.

According to the State Emergency Operations Centre, 11 cloudbursts and 4 flash floods were recorded within a span of 24 hours, mostly concentrated in the Mandi region. The area was deluged by 253.8 mm of rainfall since Monday evening, causing widespread destruction.

Widespread Damage in Mandi

Officials reported that the downpour and subsequent flooding have damaged over 10 homes, destroyed 12 cattle sheds, and swept away one bridge, while 26 cattle were lost to the floods. Several roadways are blocked or washed out, stranding commuters and cutting off access to remote areas.

Cloudburst incidents were reported at:

Gohar (4 locations)

Karsog (3 locations)

Dharampur (2 locations)

Thunag (1 location)

Among the fatalities, two deaths occurred in Bada, one each in Talwara (Gohar), Old Bazaar (Karsog), and Neri-Kotla (Jogindernagar). Efforts are underway to trace those missing, with search and rescue teams deployed across the district.

Rescue Efforts in Full Swing

Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan confirmed that two NDRF and two SDRF teams, alongside police and home guards, are leading the rescue operations. So far, 287 people have been rescued, including 233 in Mandi, 51 in Hamirpur, and 3 in Chamba.

Rising water levels in rivers have added to the challenges. Over 1.5 lakh cusecs of water had to be released from the Pandoh Dam on the Beas River, after it neared its danger level at 2,922 feet, just below the threshold of 2,941 feet.

This release caused water to inundate low-lying areas in Ballah village (Hamirpur), where 51 people—including 30 labourers—were stranded and later successfully rescued.

Transportation Disrupted

The weather-induced calamity also disrupted key transportation routes. The Chandigarh-Manali highway is blocked at several points, including Nine Mile, Dwada, Jhalogi, and Banala. An alternate route via Kamand-Kataula-Bajaura is operational but restricted to light vehicles only, causing widespread traffic jams and delays.

Statewide Losses Mounting

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, speaking from Hamirpur, said the state has already suffered economic losses exceeding ₹500 crore since the monsoon began on June 20. He assured that relief and restoration efforts would be scaled up, and compensation for affected families will follow.