Himachal weather: Cloudbursts strike Mandi in Himachal Pradesh: 4 dead, several missing & multiple houses washed away
PTC Web Desk: In a devastating turn of events, multiple cloudbursts struck four different locations in Mandi district late Monday night, claiming the lives of at least four persons. The confirmed fatalities include one each in Karsog and Dharampur, and two in Gohar. The authorities have reported that 16 persons are still missing across various parts of the district.
The cloudbursts were reported from Kutti Bypass, Old Bus Stand, Thunag, and Gohar areas of Mandi. Following the incidents, the region witnessed continuous heavy rainfall, further hampering rescue operations.
One significant incident occurred at a tunnel construction site in Bijni, where a portion of the under-construction tunnel collapsed. Fortunately, labourers working inside the tunnel managed to escape in time and no casualties were reported from the site.
In Gohar’s Syanj area, nine persons were swept away after two houses were engulfed by flash floods. In Dharampur’s Syathi village, a massive landslide caused by the cloudburst brought down two houses and five cowsheds. The incident resulted in the death of 26 domesticated animals, including sheep, goats, horses, and cows.
Several other areas in Mandi district also reported severe damage. Over 10 homes were either swept away or severely damaged due to flash floods and landslides. In Kuklah, multiple houses and the revered Mata Kashmiri Temple were washed away.
Given the ongoing threat of heavy rain, the district administrations of Mandi, Hamirpur, and Kangra have ordered the closure of all schools and colleges as a precautionary measure. Relief and rescue operations are currently underway, with teams deployed across affected areas to assist residents and search for the missing.
Beas river floods homes in Sujanpur
In a dramatic late-night rescue, 51 persons, including 21 locals and 30 migrant workers, were saved after the Beas overflowed into residential areas of Khairi village in Sujanpur, Himachal Pradesh. The incident occurred around 2 am on Tuesday night when rising river water entered multiple homes, leaving residents stranded and in danger.
Upon receiving the alert, Sujanpur Tehsildar Praveen Thakur acted swiftly. However, rescue efforts faced delays due to falling rocks and overflowing streams along the Sujanpur-Sandhol road. The situation prompted the immediate deployment of a 35-member team from the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) based in Jangalberi. With assistance from the local panchayat and police teams, the rescue operation commenced under challenging conditions. According to Tehsildar Thakur, in some homes, the water had risen up to the rooftops, intensifying the urgency of the situation.
As part of the coordinated rescue effort, the authorities directed the Pandoh Dam management to temporarily halt water discharge to help reduce the river level. Once the water receded, rescue teams were able to safely evacuate all 51 persons. Local officials, including the Naib Tehsildar and Sujanpur SHO, also participated in the overnight rescue mission, ensuring no casualties were reported.
- With inputs from agencies
