What should have been a season of cool breezes and gentle rain has turned into a nightmare for Himachal Pradesh. In just 48 hours, relentless rainfall has triggered devastating flash floods, cloudbursts, and landslides, leaving 10 people dead and 34 still missing. Rescue teams are working tirelessly, but for many families, every hour is a painful wait.
A Night of Horror
The disaster began Monday night when heavy rains lashed Mandi district, recording 253.8 mm of rainfall. By morning, the damage was unmistakable: roads vanished, homes were flooded, and lives were uprooted. On Tuesday alone, the state witnessed 11 cloudbursts, four flash floods, and a major landslide. Mandi was hit the hardest, but the shockwaves were felt statewide.
Rescue Underway
In the face of this calamity, two teams each from the NDRF and SDRF were deployed in the worst-hit towns of Gohar, Karsog, and Thunag. 316 people have been rescued from Mandi in the past 32 hours. The total number of rescues across the state has reached 332, including 51 in Hamirpur and three in Chamba.
But behind every number is a desperate human story. children rescued from school buildings, workers stranded near rivers, and villagers seeking higher ground.
A State in Shambles
The damage is staggering:
• 406 roads are shut across Himachal (248 in Mandi alone).
• 994 transformers have gone offline.
• A bridge, 24 houses, and 12 cattle sheds lie in ruins.
• The Chandigarh-Manali highway is blocked in several sections.
Meanwhile, the Pandoh Dam was forced to release 1.5 lakh cusecs of water as levels neared the danger mark.
Grief in Every Corner
Tragic deaths were reported from across the region: five in Gohar and one each in Old Karsog Bazaar, Thunag, Pandav Sheela, Dhar Jarol, and Jogindernagar. In Ballah village, rising Beas River waters led to the dramatic rescue of 51 people, including 30 migrant laborers.
School closures came too late in some areas, with many students already in classrooms when the alerts were issued.
Looking Ahead
An orange alert is in place for Kangra, Solan, and Sirmaur, while the rest of the state remains under yellow alert until July 5. Flash flood hazards continue to exist in Chamba, Hamirpur, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, and Sirmaur.
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu placed the losses at ₹500 crore and called upon citizens to keep away from rivers and adhere to safety guidelines.
A Cry from the Hills
This is not a natural disaster—it’s a wake-up call. Himachal’s citizenry is resilient, but they require care and attention. Climate change is not coming; it’s happening here, in real time.
Let’s not wait for more lives to be lost before we actually listen.
