Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, July 1
At least four people have died and 16 others are feared missing following intense rainfall and two cloudbursts that triggered widespread devastation in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district over the past 48 hours.
Officials said the relentless rain caused flash floods that swept away homes, damaged key roads, and submerged entire villages, particularly in the Sarkaghat and Dharampur areas. Locals reported hearing sudden roars of water rushing through narrow valleys, followed by mudslides and the collapse of structures.
Two villages in Dharampur have been completely washed away, according to authorities. In Karsog division, nine houses were destroyed in twin cloudburst events, though officials say the full scale of the damage is still being assessed.
One of the worst-hit locations is Patikari, where a 25-megawatt hydroelectric project was completely washed away by rising floodwaters. In Kuklah, at least ten homes and a vital bridge were swept away.
Flooding in the Jayuni and Suketi streams has left dozens of riverside homes inundated with mud and debris. In Gohar sub-division, a house near the Syanj stream was swept away in the deluge. While a mother and daughter were rescued, seven members of the same family remain missing and are feared dead.
Emergency services and rescue teams are on the ground, but officials say damaged roads and unstable terrain are hampering relief efforts. The state government has placed disaster response units on high alert as more rain is expected in the coming days.
“The situation remains fluid, and teams are doing everything possible to trace the missing and restore connectivity,” a district official told The North News. Authorities have appealed to residents to remain indoors, avoid crossing waterlogged areas, and cooperate with ongoing rescue operations.
