63 Lives Lost, ₹400 Crore Property Damage Amid Relentless Rains
Himachal Pradesh is battling one of its worst monsoon disasters in recent years. Continuous heavy rainfall has claimed 63 lives and caused over ₹400 crore in property damage, as per state officials. The situation remains critical with 40 people missing, especially in the Mandi district.
Severe Flooding in Beas, Sutlej Catchments
Heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the Sutlej and Beas rivers has drastically increased water levels in the Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams. However, the Bhakra Dam has recorded relatively lower levels, according to officials.
Mandi Worst-Hit, Search and Rescue Operations Underway
The Thunag sub-division of Mandi is the worst-hit. Roads are blocked and essential services like electricity and water have been disrupted. Relief camps have been set up and food packets airdropped by the Indian Air Force.
Officials confirmed that 14 deaths occurred in Mandi due to flash floods and cloudbursts. A total of 402 people were rescued, including 348 in Mandi alone.
Infrastructure Damage and Communication Breakdown
According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC):
- More than 150 houses and 14 bridges damaged
- 246 roads blocked, 145 in Mandi district alone
- 784 water schemes disrupted, and 404 transformers affected
The Manali-Keylong road is closed due to flooding near Solang Nallah. Landslides were also reported in Shimla suburbs, including Dhalli, and in Lindidhar village, where road embankment collapse damaged apple orchards and homes.
IMD Issues Red Alert Till July 7
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert across parts of Himachal Pradesh till July 7. Continued heavy rainfall is expected in Mandi, Kullu, Shimla, and Chamba districts.
NDRF, SDRF, Police Continue Relief Efforts
Two NDRF teams, along with SDRF, police, and home guards, are conducting search and rescue. The Jal Shakti department is restoring water through chlorinated gravity-based schemes in remote villages. Intra Circle Roaming (ICR) has been activated to address communication breakdowns in Thunag and Janjheli areas.
Political Response and Ground Challenges
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s Media Advisor confirmed ongoing relief coordination. Opposition leader Jairam Thakur stated that his Seraj constituency is the most affected, with 500 houses damaged. Locals have criticized the National Highway Authority of India for ignoring repeated complaints about collapsed safety walls.
