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3 killed in Mandi flash flood, schools closed in Himachal town
Mandi-Kullu stretch of Chandigarh-Manali National Highway (NH-21) has been blocked due to landslides at 4 Mile, 9 Mile (near Pandoh) and Dwara (near Aut).
Three people were killed when a cloudburst triggered a flash flood in Mandi town of Himachal Pradesh around 4am on Tuesday, officials said.
The flash flood inundated roads and houses in the Jail Road area, sweeping away three people, while one person remains missing. Debris blocked the roads and several vehicles were stranded.
The district administration launched a road-clearance operation soon after. “Our teams are at the site for rescue and relief,” Mandi deputy commissioner Apoorv Devgan said.
Landslides were reported from various parts of the district due to continuous rain.
The Mandi Sadar sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) ordered the closure of all schools in the area as a precautionary measure.
Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said: “Relief and rescue have been expedited. I am monitoring the situation. The state government stands with the affected people during this difficult time.”
Mandi district continues to reel under the impact of cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides triggered by incessant rain this monsoon. Fifteen people were killed on June 30 when several cloudbursts occurred. More than 1,100 houses have been damaged in the district this monsoon.
The Mandi-Kullu stretch of Chandigarh-Manali National Highway (NH-21) has been blocked due to landslides at 4 Mile, 9 Mile (near Pandoh) and Dwara (near Aut). The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) said that restoration efforts were hit due to the incessant rain.
The Mandi-Jogindernagar stretch of NH-154 was also blocked due to a landslide near Lawandi bridge.
As many as 266 road remained blocked in Himachal on Tuesday with 177 roads blocked in Mandi district alone.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded an orange alert of heavy rainfall in Kangra, Mandi and Kullu districts. “Light to moderate rainfall is expected at most places, heavy rainfall at a few and very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Solan, Una districts in the next few hours,” an IMD official said.
Taking to social media, Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut, said, “The torrential rain that struck the Mandi city last night has caused widespread destruction and suffering. My heartfelt condolences are with the grieving families. Many vehicles are buried under debris, and homes have suffered severed damage. These heartbreaking conditions have shaken the entire region. I am in constant communication with the administration – relief and rescue operations are being prioritised.”
Former Himachal chief minister and leader of opposition in the state assembly, Jai Ram Thakur, visited the affected areas of Mandi town. Speaking to the media, he said, “For the past few years, heavy rainfall during the monsoon has been causing widespread destruction. This year too, the rains have left a trail of devastation in Mandi. The recurring damage caused by rainfall is a matter of concern for the entire state. The government must provide immediate relief to the affected families.”
