Landslides and flash floods cripple Himachal, kill two in Mandi; Dharamsala highway blocked

Himachal rain

Torrential rains pummelled parts of Himachal Pradesh early Tuesday, unleashing a series of flash floods and landslides that have killed two people, left one missing and brought traffic to a standstill across several districts, The Tribune reported.

In Mandi district, a sudden flash flood swept through Tungal Colony in the heart of Mandi town around dawn, catching residents off guard as water surged through homes and washed away parked vehicles. The deluge, triggered by heavy overnight rainfall, claimed the lives of two members of a local family, while another remains unaccounted for.

According to ward councillor Hardeep Singh Raja cited by The Tribune, the family had stepped out in the early hours to shift their vehicle to safety when a powerful surge of floodwater struck, carrying away three of them. One member of the family survived with critical injuries and a fractured leg and has been hospitalised.

Rescue teams have since recovered two bodies, while efforts to trace the missing person are ongoing. Personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), district authorities and local volunteers are engaged in relief operations, clearing muck and debris and providing aid to affected households.

The flooding has also caused extensive damage to infrastructure. Dozens of vehicles were washed away, while interiors of several houses have been left caked in silt and water. The Tribune reported that residents were caught completely unaware, with many not even having enough time to gather basic belongings before water entered their homes.

Major highways, including the Chandigarh-Manali route, reportedly remain blocked at several points. Heavy debris near Pandoh, particularly at 4 Miles and 9 Miles, has cut off access between Mandi and Kullu. The Mandi-Pathankot highway is also shut due to a landslide at Lavandi Bridge near Jogindernagar. Many internal roads have either caved in or are submerged, prompting authorities to urge residents to stay indoors.

Meanwhile, in Kangra district, a massive landslide in the early hours blocked the National Highway to Dharamsala, severing access to McLeodganj and other upper hill areas. The slide, triggered by two days of relentless rainfall, occurred around 3 am and buried several stretches of the highway under mounds of debris.

Hundreds of vehicles, including milk tankers and newspaper delivery vans, were stranded on both ends of the highway for hours. Essential supplies across Kangra, Dharamsala and nearby regions have been severely disrupted. “I have been stuck here since 4 am. There’s no information from the authorities and the road is completely blocked,” a newspaper delivery driver was quoted by The Tribune as saying.

Despite the gravity of the situation, no officials from the district administration, the Public Works Department (PWD), or the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) arrived on site until several hours later, drawing sharp criticism from the public and commuters left exposed to the elements.

The blocked highway has once again underlined the precarious state of Himachal’s monsoon infrastructure, especially in key tourist and commercial corridors. There was no official estimate on when the debris would be cleared or traffic movement restored, The Tribune reported.

The India Meteorological Department has issued a fresh alert predicting more rain in the next 48 hours, heightening fears of further landslides and flooding in the hill state. Emergency shelters and food supplies are being arranged by the local administration as a precaution.