Flash Floods Devastate Himachal: 10 Dead, 34 Missing as Rescue Operations Continue

Heavy overnight rains triggered flash floods and 11 cloudbursts across Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, leaving 10 people dead, 34 missing, and several injured, officials reported on Wednesday. The intense weather events have caused widespread destruction and severe disruption across the region.

On Tuesday alone, the state witnessed 11 cloudbursts, four flash floods, and a major landslide—most of them concentrated in Mandi district. Mandi recorded exceptionally heavy rainfall of 253.8 mm since Monday evening. The severe downpour damaged homes, cattle sheds, roads, and infrastructure. The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) reported damage to 24 houses, 12 cattle sheds, a bridge, and multiple roads. Out of 406 roads blocked statewide, 248 are in Mandi. The district also saw disruption in electricity supply, with 994 transformers affected.

Rescue operations have been intensified in the affected areas. Two teams each from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed in Gohar, Karsog, and Thunag—the worst-hit towns. So far, 316 people have been rescued from Mandi in just 32 hours. Statewide, 332 people have been rescued, including 51 from Hamirpur and 3 from Chamba.

Multiple fatalities have been confirmed: five deaths occurred in Gohar, while one death each was reported in Old Karsog Bazaar, Thunag, Pandav Sheela, and Dhar Jarol. One body was recovered from Neri-Kotla in Jogindernagar. Thirty cattle have also perished due to the floods. Mandi’s Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan stated that rescue teams, police, and home guards are working round-the-clock to find missing persons and relocate families to safer areas.

Water levels in all major rivers and streams in Mandi are alarmingly high. Over 1.5 lakh cusecs of water were released from the Pandoh Dam after water levels rose to a dangerous 2,922 feet—just short of the 2,941-foot danger mark.

The Chandigarh-Manali four-lane highway is blocked at multiple locations including Nine Miles, Dwada, Jhalogi, and Banala, causing significant traffic disruption. An alternate route—Kamand-Kataula-Bajaura—is only open to light vehicles, further affecting mobility in the region.

In Hamirpur district, 51 people, including 30 labourers, were rescued from Ballah village after the Beas River overflowed and inundated low-lying areas. The district also reported damage to kutcha houses, water pipelines, and electricity lines. Some parts of the Sujanpur Tira-Sandhol road remain underwater.

Schools were closed in both Mandi and Hamirpur districts on Tuesday. However, some students had already reached school premises before the closure announcement was made, according to local residents.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an 'orange' alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning for Kangra, Solan, and Sirmaur districts. A 'yellow' alert is in effect for the rest of the state until July 5. Flash flood risks remain moderate to high in Chamba, Hamirpur, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, and Solan over the next 24 hours.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that Himachal Pradesh has suffered an estimated Rs 500 crore in losses since the monsoon began on June 20. He expressed concern over the increasing frequency of cloudburst incidents and urged residents to stay away from riverbanks and drains for their safety.