Mandi (Himachal Pradesh), July 29, 2025 — A flash flood triggered by a cloudburst wreaked havoc in Mandi town on Monday night, leaving three people dead and several others injured or missing, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
According to Deputy Commissioner Apoorva Devgan, one woman remains missing, and at least 15–20 people have been rescued so far as rescue operations continue. One person sustained injuries in the incident.
The deluge, caused by gushing waters from the Sukati nallahs, buried over 20 vehicles under debris and inundated several houses across a 5-km stretch. The worst-affected areas include Jail Road, Saini Mohalla, and the vicinity of the Zonal Hospital.
Highways and Infrastructure Crippled
The Chandigarh-Manali National Highway has been closed at 4 Mile, 9 Mile, and Dwada due to major damage. Landslides also blocked the Shimla-Mataur National Highway at Old Kangra Ghat. Multiple reports of uprooted trees and snapped power lines have emerged from across the state.
A total of 200 roads, including 121 in Mandi alone, are closed, while 62 power transformers and 110 water supply schemes have been disrupted, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre.
Weather Alerts and Continuing Monsoon Woes
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated parts of Kangra, Mandi, and Kullu districts on Tuesday. A yellow alert is in effect for Chamba, Shimla, Sirmaur, Una, Kangra, Mandi, and Kullu districts through Wednesday.
Since the monsoon onset on June 20, Himachal Pradesh has suffered ₹1,523 crore in losses. So far, 90 people have died, 35 are missing, and 1,320 houses have been fully or partially damaged in rain-related incidents.
Leaders on the Ground
Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, along with DC Apoorva Devgan, visited the disaster site in Mandi on Tuesday to oversee rescue and relief efforts.
