Himachal Rain | Red Alert In Himachal Pradesh's Mandi, Schools Remain Closed

Himachal Rain | Red Alert In Himachal Pradesh's Mandi, Schools Remain Closed

Extensive damage has been reported in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district after relentless heavy rain, flash floods, and several cloudbursts since Monday evening. One fatality has been confirmed, nine are missing, and at least 41 individuals have been rescued in several emergency operations conducted by the district administration and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

One person lost their life in the cloudburst in the Karsog subdivision. But rescue efforts promptly resulted in the safe evacuation of 16 people, including 12 children and 4 women. Seven-member family from Riki village were also rescued and shifted to a safer location. A number of houses in the area were also damaged by the occurrence.

At Sianj Panchayat in the Seraj Assembly constituency, a raging tributary of Beas River — Jayuni Khad — carried away at least two houses. Nine people have gone missing after being swept away in the deluge.

Damage has been caused to several houses and cowsheds or washed away in Syathi village in Dharampur subdivision. There is no report of casualties from the region as yet.

 

As water levels in the Beas River were increasing downstream as controlled releases from Pandoh Dam, the Pandoh market was evacuated with a midnight precautionary measure. No one has been reportedly injured or trapped. 

Rescue efforts went on all night long in a number of exposed locations. The Kiratpur-Manali highway at various points has been submerged due to landslides. Dozens of commuters were stranded within road tunnels overnight. Voluntaries from district administration are providing food and water to stranded people, and vehicular traffic from Mandi to Kullu has been suspended for safety measures. Attempts to clear the highway have been grossly negated by the persistent downpour, which started late on Monday evening and does not show signs of relenting.

The crisis mounted as heavy rain in the upper catchments of the Beas River caused a sudden spurt in inflow at Pandoh Dam. Officials had to open the spillway gates to regulate the water levels, leading to the Beas swelling downstream. Locals, tourists, and employees have been advised in strong terms to avoid riverbanks.

 

Constant warning sirens have been blared, and public announcement vehicles have been used to inform the masses. The Larji Hydro Electric Project (126 MW) in the Kullu district also raised its discharge of water due to increasing water levels and higher silt content. Such notices have been given to the public and tourists in the region.

 

As a precautionary measure, District Magistrate Apoorv Devgan has directed the closure of all schools and educational institutions of Mandi district for July 1 due to the dangerous situation— rain, flood, and road obstructions.