Torrential rains have once again brought life to a standstill across Himachal Pradesh, as widespread downpours triggered flash floods, landslides, and significant damage to infrastructure. The Meteorological Department reported that in the past twelve hours alone, Mandi district recorded the highest rainfall at 198 millimetres, with Pandoh receiving 124 millimetres. Heavy showers were also reported in Kangra, Bilaspur, Una, and Hamirpur districts.
The intense rainfall caused chaos early this morning in Mandi town, where cloudbursts in the Jail Road and Hospital Road areas led to sudden flash floods. Water mixed with debris entered houses, causing panic among residents. Several vehicles were swept away or buried under thick layers of mud and silt.
Deputy Commissioner of Mandi, Apoorv Devgan, confirmed that three people have lost their lives in the incident, while one person remains missing and another has been injured. “Our teams have safely evacuated around fifteen people, and rescue operations are currently underway,” he said.
The damage is not limited to Mandi. According to the State Emergency Operations Centre, landslides have severely disrupted road connectivity, blocking 266 roads statewide, including three major national highways. These include:
National Highway 21 (Mandi–Kullu),
National Highway 154 (Mandi–Jogindernagar), and
National Highway 03 (Mandi–Kotli).
Efforts are ongoing to clear the debris and restore transportation links, but authorities have urged residents to avoid non-essential travel due to the continuing risk of landslides and flash floods.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Centre in Shimla has issued an Orange Alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in ten districts, excluding Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur. The department has warned that the current spell of heavy rain may persist until August 4, raising concerns about further damage and disruptions.
As monsoon rains continue to batter the hilly state, residents are being advised to stay alert and follow advisories issued by local authorities. Emergency teams remain on high alert, but the scale of the impact underscores the vulnerability of Himachal Pradesh to climate-driven extreme weather events.
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