Cloudbursts in Himachal’s Mandi District Leave One Dead, Nine Missing; Torrential Rains Cause Widespread Damage

The cloudbursts washed away several houses and infrastructure, prompting a major rescue and relief operation. At least 41 people have been rescued so far by the district administration and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

In Kuklah village, flash floods swept away 10 houses and a bridge. The 16-MW Patikari Hydro-Electric Power Project, a run-of-the-river installation built on the Bakhli Khad—a left-bank tributary of the Beas river—was also completely destroyed.

Amid a sharp rise in water levels, authorities released 150,000 cusecs of water from the Pandoh Dam to manage the excessive inflow caused by heavy rainfall in the Beas upper catchment area. Locals and tourists have been strictly advised to stay away from riverbanks due to the risk of further flooding.

The 126-MW Larji Hydro Electric Project in Kullu district also recorded an abnormal increase in water discharge levels, raising further concerns.

In response to the deteriorating weather conditions, Mandi District Magistrate Apoorv Devgan ordered the closure of all schools and educational institutions across the district on Tuesday as a precautionary measure.

Torrential rain continued across the state, causing flash floods and landslides. On Monday, a five-storey building collapsed in the suburbs of Shimla city. Fortunately, there were no casualties, as the structure had been evacuated beforehand.

According to the State Revenue Department, Himachal Pradesh has suffered damages worth ₹75.69 crore due to continuous rain over the past 10 days. From June 20 to June 30, the state reported 23 rain-related deaths, including from cloudbursts, flash floods, and drowning incidents.

The state also faces widespread disruptions: 259 link roads remain closed, 614 electricity distribution transformers are out of service, and 144 water supply schemes have been affected.