One person died according to PTI and 12 others are missing due to the fresh flash floods that hit Himachal on Monday Evening. The casualties are feared to be more in number.
Mandi alone recorded a massive 216.8 mm of rainfall.
The State Emergency Operation Centre reported that 259 roads—including 129 in Mandi and 92 in Sirmaur—were closed due to cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides. Additionally, 614 transformers and 130 water supply schemes were disrupted.
Revenue Tribal Development and Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi, stated that 17 people have lost their lives in the state since June 20, due to rain related accidents, ANI reported.
Deputy Commissioner of Mandi, Apoorv Devgan, told PTI that the flood on June 30 has led to one confirmed death and left 12 to 13 people missing. The death was reported from the Karsog area, while seven people from two families are missing in Syanj after being caught in the floods.
Rescue operations are underway, with Devgan stating that several people have been moved to safer locations. The flash floods caused extensive damage across the district, with reports of homes and valuable agricultural land being destroyed. In villages like Purana Bazar, Kutti, and Baral in Karsog, roads and vehicles were simply washed away by the force of the water.
In Syathi village, a dozen houses and numerous livestock, including cows, horses, and goats, were reportedly swept away. Meanwhile, water from overflowing rivers entered homes near the Patikari Power Project in Pandoh.
All water bodies in the district are swollen above safety levels. To manage the immense pressure, over 1.5 lakh cusecs of water were released from the Pandoh Dam into the Beas river. The water level at the dam has reached 2,922 feet, nearing its danger mark of 2,941 feet.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday said on X “there has been a loss of life and property due to overnight rain and cloudbursts in the areas of Karsog, Dharmpur, Mandi Sadar, Nachan, and Saraj, which is extremely painful and concerning.I am in constant contact with the district administration, continuously reviewing relief and rescue operations to ensure that prompt and effective assistance reaches those in need. I humbly request the people of the state to strictly follow the guidelines issued by the administration,”
The crucial Chandigarh-Manali four-lane highway is blocked at several points, forcing authorities to divert light motor vehicles through an alternate route. The Mandi police have advised the public to avoid all non-essential travel.
The damage extended to the neighbouring Hamirpur district, where kutcha (mud) houses and essential water and power schemes were hit. In Sujanpur, a team from the Indian Reserve Battalion rescued 15 stranded migrants. Following the heavy rains, schools in both Mandi and Hamirpur were ordered to be closed on Tuesday.
This latest incident is part of a wider weather event impacting the state. The weather department has issued a red alert for 10 of the state's 12 districts, warning of extremely heavy rainfall. It has also highlighted a moderate to high risk of flash floods in parts of Chamba, Hamirpur, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, and Solan over the next 24 hours.
Himachal Pradesh has been facing such natural calamities during the monsoon season. In recent years, the state has repeatedly witnessed landslides and flash floods that have claimed hundreds of lives and caused massive damage to public and private property, highlighting the region's vulnerability to extreme weather events. Authorities remain on high alert as rescue efforts continue.
