Cloudbursts, flashfloods ravage in Mandi district; 5 dead, 15 missing

Tragedy struck Mandi district last night as cloudbursts triggered flashfloods and landslides, claiming five lives and leaving 15 persons missing. Rescue teams have managed to evacuate 132 individuals from flood-affected areas as efforts continue to locate the missing and restore road connectivity.

Torrential rains trigger tragedy

24 houses destroyed, 12 cowsheds washed away in flash floods across district

30 cattle perished as raging floodwaters swept through villages overnight

16 MW hydropower project severely damaged at Patikari, disrupting electricity supply

Key highways blocked, including Kiratpur-Manali route, stranding hundreds of tourists

Jhalogi Tunnel area paralysed after landslides, cutting off Mandi-Kullu connectivity

Communication networks down, power outages reported in worst-hit flood zones

The fatalities were reported from different parts of the district. One body was recovered from the old market area in Karsog, two from Bada village under Gohar subdivision, one from Talwara village and another from Neri Kotla in Jogindernagar subdivision.

Among the 15 missing, nine are from Siyanj panchayat, where two houses were swept away in a cloudburst. In Talwara village of Gohar subdivision, two individuals were washed away, while four remain unaccounted for in the old market area of Karsog following heavy downpour.

Rescue efforts, led by teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, home guards and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) volunteers, have brought 132 persons to safety. Evacuees include 11 residents from Palace Colony, 16 from Tarna, 29 girl students from DIET, 29 from Bada village, two from Bassi village, seven each from Kutti and Rikki villages, and 16 from Government Degree College, Karsog, including 12 students.

The calamity has caused significant property and livestock damage. Twenty-four houses and twelve cowsheds were destroyed and 30 cattle perished. Damage was reported in multiple areas, including seven houses in Kuthah panchayat (Seraj assembly constituency), one in Kelodhar, six at Negli Pul, two in Siyanj, one in Bada (Gohar subdivision), two in Serthi, four in Bhadrana (Dharampur subdivision) and two in Kotli subdivision.

A 16 MW hydro power project at Patikari under Thunag subdivision was severely damaged by flashfloods. Communication and transportation services have been badly affected, with authorities working to restore road connectivity, power supply and telecommunications.

Transport across Mandi district has been severely disrupted. Several roads, including the key Kiratpur-Manali National Highway, were blocked since last evening. Landslides at Jhalogi Tunnel, Four Miles and near Pandoh stranded numerous tourists between Mandi and Aut overnight. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) deployed personnel and machinery to clear debris and traffic movement near Jhalogi Tunnel was restored by 5 pm on Tuesday. Stranded tourists faced severe water scarcity, with long queues of vehicles, including Volvo buses and trucks, lining the highway. The administration provided food and water as temporary relief.

The situation worsened last night as heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the Beas led to a massive inflow into Larji and Pandoh dams. The authorities opened spillway gates, raising water levels downstream. Residents, tourists and workers were warned to stay away from riverbanks. Warning sirens and public announcement vehicles were deployed to alert people near the river. Pandoh market was evacuated around midnight as the Beas swelled, though no casualties were reported.

Given the dangerous conditions, District Magistrate Apoorv Devgan ordered the closure of all schools and educational institutions in Mandi district on Tuesday (July 1) as a precaution.

Deputy Commissioner Aditya Negi rushed to assess the situation and oversee rescue operations. He confirmed that five bodies had been recovered, while 15 persons remained missing. Efforts were ongoing to evacuate stranded tourists near Jhalogi Tunnel and affected families had been relocated to safer areas with necessary relief.

The authorities continued to monitor the situation closely, urging residents to follow official advisories and remain indoors unless absolutely necessary. Rescue teams remain on high alert as rainfall persists. The district administration continues search and rescue operations amid challenging weather conditions, advising caution and avoiding travel in landslide-prone areas until stability returns.

Meanwhile, one of the deceased was identified as Jeet Ram of Sanarli village in Karsog. The local administration gave Rs 25,000 to his family as an immediate relief.

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