Himachal Pradesh Devastated by Cloudbursts and Flash Floods; Five Dead, Several Missing, Hundreds Rescued

Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district was severely battered by relentless overnight rainfall that triggered multiple cloudbursts and flash floods, claiming five lives, injuring five people, and leaving at least 16 others missing, according to official reports released on Tuesday.

 

The state witnessed widespread destruction and disruption following 11 reported incidents of cloudbursts, four flash floods, and a major landslide, the majority of which occurred in the Mandi district. These natural calamities, driven by torrential rains since Monday evening, have thrown normal life out of gear.

 

Record Rainfall and Flooding

 

Mandi district experienced extremely heavy rainfall, recording a massive 253.8 mm of precipitation in less than 24 hours. The sudden deluge has led to rivers and streams overflowing and inundating several low-lying areas.

Authorities have described the situation as alarming, prompting a state-wide emergency response.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an ‘orange’ warning for several parts of the state, cautioning of heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. This alert covers Kangra, Solan, and Sirmaur districts on Wednesday, and Una, Hamirpur, Kangra, and Mandi districts on Sunday.

Additionally, a ‘yellow’ alert remains in effect across most of Himachal Pradesh till July 5, warning of continued heavy rainfall and the potential for further flash floods and landslides.

 

Scale of Damage and Ongoing Rescue Efforts

According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), a total of 406 roads have been closed across the state due to rain-related damage, with 248 roads alone in Mandi district.

Electricity supply has also been heavily affected—994 power transformers are currently non-functional in Mandi.

 

Preliminary reports reveal the destruction of 24 houses, 12 cattle sheds, one bridge, and multiple roads. Additionally, at least 30 cattle have perished, and rescue teams are working tirelessly to evacuate nine people who remain stranded in dangerous locations across the district.

 

As per the SEOC, 332 people have been rescued so far, with 278 from Mandi, 51 from Hamirpur, and three from Chamba.

In the worst-hit Mandi district, cloudbursts were recorded at four locations in Gohar, three in Karsog, two in Dharampur, and one in Thunag.

The fatalities include two deaths in Bada, one in Talwara (both in Gohar area), one in Karsog’s old Bazaar, and one body recovered from Neri-Kotla in Jogindernagar.

 

Emergency Measures and Government Response

In response to the unfolding crisis, the Himachal Pradesh government has activated full-scale emergency protocols and established a 224/7control room at the SEOC. Citizens have been urged to report any emergencies by calling the helpline number 1070.

Deputy Commissioner of Mandi, Apoorv Devgan, confirmed that several rescue operations have been successfully conducted and many people have been safely relocated from vulnerable areas.

Two teams, each of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), supported by police personnel and home guards, are engaged in intensive search and rescue missions throughout the region.

 

The Beas River is in full spate, and authorities have released over 1.5 lakh cusecs of water from the Pandoh Dam after its water level rose to 2,922 feet, dangerously close to the danger mark of 2,941 feet.

 

Transportation and Connectivity Woes

The downpour has crippled transportation in the region. The critical Chandigarh–Manali four-lane highway remains blocked at multiple points, including Nine Miles, Dwada, Jhalogi, and Banala.

While alternate routes such as Kamand-Kataula-Bajaura are functional, they are open only to light motor vehicles (LMVs). Travelers continue to face severe inconvenience due to traffic congestion and road closures.

Wider Impact on Hamirpur and Other Areas

Elsewhere in Hamirpur district, a group of 51 people, including 30 laborers, were rescued from Ballah village after rapidly rising waters from the Beas River flooded the area following the release of water from the Pandoh Dam.

There have been multiple reports of damage to kutcha (mud) houses, water pipelines, and electricity cables in the region. The road connecting Sujanpur Tira to Sandhol along the left bank of the Beas River has been partially submerged, forcing locals to travel on foot.

Due to the worsening weather conditions, the district administrations of Mandi and Hamirpur ordered the closure of schools on Tuesday. However, some students in Hamirpur had already reached school due to delays in communication, according to residents.

Monsoon Damage Estimated at ₹500 Crore

Speaking to the media in Hamirpur, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that the state has suffered monetary losses worth nearly ₹500 crore since the monsoon began on June 20. He acknowledged a concerning rise in cloudburst events in the past few years and said the government is actively investigating the underlying causes.

He also appealed to the public to stay away from riverbanks, drains, and other flood-prone areas, emphasizing that the risk remains high due to unpredictable weather conditions.

Precautionary Measures and Weather Forecast Improvements

The Director General of Police’s office has issued special instructions to district-level police forces, urging them to be on high alert, assist in the evacuation of stranded individuals, provide security at relief camps, manage traffic, and monitor misinformation on social media platforms.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh acknowledged the challenges in accurately predicting cloudbursts, despite the presence of a robust weather forecasting system.

He assured that the government is working to increase the number of automatic weather stations across the country, which would enable area-specific weather predictions and enhance the overall accuracy of forecasts.

With large swathes of Himachal Pradesh facing nature’s fury, the state machinery is on high alert. Continued rainfall, blocked roads, rising river levels, and communication issues pose ongoing challenges.

However, with rescue teams on the ground and weather monitoring efforts being enhanced, authorities are striving to mitigate the disaster’s impact and protect lives in the affected regions.