A devastating flash flood triggered by a cloudburst struck Mandi town in Himachal Pradesh on Monday night, July 28, claiming three lives, leaving one woman missing, and injuring another, officials reported. The deluge, fueled by 198.6 mm of rainfall in Mandi since Monday evening, unleashed torrents through Sukati nallahs, sweeping debris across a five-kilometer radius and inundating areas like Jail Road, Saini Mohalla, and the Zonal hospital. Over 20 vehicles were buried, and numerous homes were damaged, forcing residents to flee to safety.

Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorva Devgan confirmed the casualties, noting that rescue operations are in full swing, with 15–20 people already saved. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, and home guards, alongside Public Works, Electricity, and Jal Shakti Department teams, are clearing roads and restoring power. A relief camp at Vipasha Sadan is housing displaced residents, with others finding shelter with friends or relatives. Schools, colleges, and anganwadi centers in Mandi Sadar were closed on Tuesday due to landslides and blocked roads, including the Chandigarh-Manali National Highway, shut at 4 Mile, 9 Mile, and Dwada after sections were washed away.

The disaster follows a brutal monsoon season, with Mandi already reeling from 15 deaths in Seraj, Nachan, Dharampur, and Karsog on June 30–July 1. Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, local MLA Anil Sharma, and DC Devgan visited the affected sites, with Thakur lamenting the “massive devastation” this year. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is personally monitoring relief efforts, urging swift action. Social media is flooded with visuals of debris-laden streets, buried vehicles, and residents aiding rescue operations.

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Kangra, Mandi, and Kullu on Tuesday, with a yellow alert for Chamba, Shimla, Sirmaur, and others through Wednesday. The Beas River and its tributaries are nearing danger levels, prompting warnings to avoid waterways. Statewide, the monsoon since June 20 has caused 90 deaths, 35 missing persons, and ₹1,523 crore in losses, with 1,320 houses damaged, 200 roads closed (121 in Mandi), and 62 transformers and 110 water schemes disrupted, per the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC).

The tragedy compounds Mandi’s woes, with earlier reports noting 14–17 deaths and 31–34 missing in the district from June 30–July 3 due to cloudbursts and landslides. The SEOC estimates total monsoon deaths at 164, including road accidents, with Mandi bearing the brunt. As rescue teams battle treacherous terrain and forecasts predict rain until July 31, Himachal faces a deepening crisis, with infrastructure and communities on the edge.

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