MANDI — Torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides across Mandi town in Himachal Pradesh early Tuesday, leaving at least two people dead and two others missing, while causing widespread destruction to homes, vehicles, and infrastructure.
According to officials, a cloudburst is suspected to have caused the flash flood that struck Jail Road in the early hours as residents slept. Water gushed into houses located near a local rivulet, sweeping away property and vehicles. Over two dozen vehicles parked along the road were either submerged or severely damaged.
The force of the floodwaters also blocked the main road to the regional hospital and flooded the Mandi Bus Terminus. Landslides were reported from several areas of the town, including Victoria Bridge and the DAV School, compounding the chaos.
The victims had not been identified at the time of reporting. Search and rescue operations were launched immediately, with at least one person feared trapped under debris. Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan visited the affected sites to assess the damage.
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur visited Jail Road and interacted with affected residents. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said in a statement that he was closely monitoring the situation and had instructed officials to speed up relief and rescue efforts.
Heavy rainfall also led to multiple landslides along the Chandigarh-Manali highway, particularly near Pandoh at 4 Mile, 9 Mile, and Dwara, resulting in its closure and massive traffic congestion. The highway remained shut at the time of filing this report.
As per the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), the ongoing monsoon season has so far claimed 164 lives in Himachal Pradesh. The state has also suffered estimated losses exceeding ₹1,523 crore since the onset of rains on June 20.
