Mandi, Himachal Pradesh: Relentless heavy rainfall since late Monday night has brought life to a standstill in Mandi district, triggering a flood-like situation and causing widespread disruption. The downpour, which began around 11 PM, has led to waterlogging in multiple areas and severely affected normal life.
Among the worst-hit locations is the Zonal Hospital Mandi, where water overflow from nearby drains has inundated the premises, forcing authorities to close the main access road. Patients and staff are facing severe inconvenience as a result.
The local administration has reported several landslides in and around Mandi town, blocking internal roads and posing a threat to residents in landslide-prone areas. The situation has also crippled transportation on key routes, including the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway (NH-3), which is blocked at multiple points between Mandi and Kullu. Long queues of stranded vehicles have been reported along the route.
According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), the ongoing monsoon havoc has affected large parts of Himachal Pradesh. As of the evening of July 28, nearly 200 roads were reported blocked, 62 power transformers were non-functional, and 110 water supply schemes were disrupted due to the torrential rains.
The monsoon season, which began on June 20, has already claimed 164 lives across the state. Of these, 90 deaths are directly attributed to rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, electrocution, and drowning. Road accidents during the rains have resulted in 74 additional fatalities. Mandi district alone has recorded 32 deaths—the highest in the state—followed by Kangra with 24 and Chamba with 17.
The SDMA highlighted the extent of the damage in a statement, noting that since June 20, the state has witnessed 42 flash floods, 25 cloudbursts, and 32 major landslides. Mandi remains the worst-affected in terms of rain-related fatalities, with 18 lives lost, followed by Kangra (17), Kullu (10), and Chamba (eight).
The rains have also caused significant property damage: over 251 houses have been completely destroyed, while 1,165 homes have sustained partial damage. In addition to the loss of human lives, agricultural and horticultural sectors have also reported substantial losses. The total estimated economic damage so far stands at over ₹1,52,311 lakh.
Disaster response teams have been deployed, and efforts to clear roads and restore essential services are underway. However, continued rainfall is hindering rescue and relief operations. Authorities are urging residents to stay alert, avoid non-essential travel, and follow safety advisories strictly. Monitoring of the situation is ongoing round-the-clock.
