Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla/Mandi, July 2
Relentless rainfall over the past 11 days has left a trail of destruction across Himachal Pradesh, claiming 51 lives and triggering dozens of flash floods and cloudbursts. In just the last 32 hours, ten people have died and at least 34 are still missing following a series of cloudbursts and flash floods, with the Mandi district among the hardest hit.
The officials said that 333 people have been rescued from flood-affected regions including Chamba, Mandi and Hamirpur, while five individuals remain critically injured. The state has witnessed 16 cloudbursts and three flash floods in this period, leading to widespread damage to infrastructure and displacement of communities. In Mandi, multiple sub-divisions including Gohar, Karsog and Dharampur reported landslides and flooding, with many homes destroyed and roads blocked. The Mandi-Manali highway remains closed at several points due to landslides near tunnel sections 11 and 13, although stranded travellers have been evacuated.
The state disaster management authority confirmed that 24 homes, 12 cattle sheds, and over 30 livestock were lost in the disaster. Relief camps have been set up in schools and public buildings, and basic supplies such as food and water are being distributed by volunteers.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) deployed across the worst-hit zones. In Gohar’s Syangji village, where several people remain unaccounted for, emergency teams are conducting search operations round the clock.
The officials have also warned of continued heavy rain in the coming days, raising fears of further landslides and disruptions. Over 400 roads remain closed, more than 1,500 transformers are down, and 171 water supply schemes are affected — leaving many areas struggling with electricity and water shortages. Emergency services remain on high alert as the state battles one of its most severe monsoon seasons in recent years.
