A sudden flash flood triggered by a cloudburst wreaked havoc in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, late Monday night, claiming three lives and leaving one person missing. The deluge buried over 20 vehicles and inundated homes across the city. The worst-affected areas include Jail Road, Saini Mohalla, and the vicinity of Mandi Zonal Hospital.
The deceased include a mother and son, and one injured individual is currently receiving treatment. Over 15 people have been rescued as the National Disaster Response Force, local police, and civil services continue intensive recovery operations.
Relief camps have been established, and the administration has closed schools, colleges, and anganwadi centres in the region. Public utilities like roads, power supply, and water systems have sustained significant damage—over 269 roads, including three national highways, are blocked, and 98 water supply schemes disrupted.
The Mandi–Manali and Mandi–Jogindernagar highways are among the worst hit, stranding numerous tourists. Videos circulating online show dramatic visuals of vehicles buried in debris and floodwaters entering homes.
Heavy rainfall has continued across Himachal, prompting an orange alert in Mandi, Kangra, and Kullu. Since June 20, the state has incurred losses of ?1,523 crore due to monsoon-related destruction, with 90 fatalities and over 1,300 homes damaged or destroyed.