Flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi have claimed three lives, left one person injured, and another missing, as torrential rains swept through residential areas, officials confirmed on Tuesday. Videos circulating on social media show widespread destruction—vehicles buried under debris, homes inundated with floodwaters, and frantic rescue efforts underway.

Mandi has received an intense 202.6 mm of rainfall since Monday evening, causing local drains—known as Suketi nullahs—to overflow and carry massive debris through parts of the city. The worst-affected areas include Jail Road, Saini Mohalla, and the vicinity of the zonal hospital.

Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan confirmed the casualties, identifying the deceased as Balbir Singh, Amarpreet Singh, and his mother Sapna. A woman and her son, both injured, are being treated at the zonal hospital. Another woman remains missing.

Rescue operations led by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, and home guards are ongoing. About 15–20 people have been rescued so far, according to officials. Relief efforts are being supported by the Public Works Department, Jal Shakti, and power utility teams to clear debris and restore basic services.

In response to the disaster, a relief camp has been established at Vipasha Sadan. Several families whose homes were damaged have taken shelter with relatives or at temporary camps.

As per the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), the impact of the disaster is extensive:

• 358 roads have been blocked across the state, including 259 in Mandi district alone.
• 182 power transformers and 179 water supply schemes have been disrupted.
• The Chandigarh-Manali National Highway (NH-21) has suffered severe damage at multiple points between Mandi and Kullu.

Schools, colleges, and anganwadi centres in Mandi Sadar subdivision remained shut on Tuesday due to impassable roads.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and assured that the administration has been instructed to provide immediate assistance to the affected families. Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur also expressed concern, noting the scale of devastation in Mandi this monsoon.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had earlier issued an ‘orange’ alert for Mandi, Kullu, and Kangra districts, forecasting heavy to very heavy rain. A ‘yellow’ alert remains in place for several other districts, including Shimla, Sirmaur, and Chamba. Citizens have been advised to stay away from the Beas River and its tributaries, which are currently flowing above danger levels.

Since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, Himachal Pradesh has reported damages exceeding Rs 1,539 crore. According to SEOC data, 94 people have died, 36 are missing, and over 1,350 houses have been either fully or partially damaged in rain-related incidents.

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With PTI inputs