Himachal rains: Rescue operations on to trace 30 missing after cloudbursts, landslips in Mandi

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Locals carry their belongings as they walk amid the debris at a flood-affected area, at Thunag in Mandi district, Monday, July 7, 2025.

Locals carry their belongings as they walk amid the debris at a flood-affected area, at Thunag in Mandi district, Monday, July 7, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI

Search and rescue operations are underway with drones and sniffer dogs being used to trace 30 people who went missing after cloudbursts, flash floods and landslips wreaked havoc in the Thunag, Gohar and Karsog subdivisions of Mandi district last week, officials said on Monday (July 7, 2025).

About 250 personnel from the National and State Disaster Response Forces, Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Home Guards, along with the administration and locals, are undertaking the search and rescue work. Besides, 20 teams are gathering information and distributing ration and medical kits in inaccessible areas, officials said.

So far, 1,538 ration kits have been distributed to the affected people and immediate relief of ₹12.44 lakh has been provided. An additional ₹5 lakh each is being sent to the Thunag and Janjheli areas, they added.

Flash Floods Wreak Havoc in Mandi’s Thunag, Himachal Pradesh

Flash floods and cloudbursts in Thunag, Mandi district, have caused widespread devastation, leaving homes and roads buried in debris. Fourteen people have died, and 31 are missing. Relief operations are ongoing with the support of the Army, NDRF, and local authorities. The region remains in crisis as hundreds await urgent aid amid continued rain and difficult terrain. | Video Credit: The Hindu

 H.P. Congress committee via ANI

Himachal Pradesh Congress president Pratibha Singh visits areas affected by disaster following heavy downpour, at Karsog in Mandi on July 6, 2025. Photo: H.P. Congress committee via ANI

About 225 houses, seven shops, 243 cattle sheds, 31 vehicles, 14 bridges and several roads were damaged in the disaster. A total of 215 cattle have perished, while 494 people have been rescued, as per the latest report.

Till Sunday (July 6) evening, 243 roads were closed in the State, of which 183 are in Mandi district alone. Additionally, 241 transformers and 278 water supply schemes were affected in Himachal Pradesh, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), the officials said.

 X/@KanganaTeam via ANI

BJP MP Kangana Ranaut visits the areas affected by disaster to asses the damages, at Karsog in Mandi on July 6, 2025. Photo: X/@KanganaTeam via ANI

Meanwhile, light to moderate rain lashed parts of the State. Nangal Dam received 56 mm of rain, followed by Olinda (46 mm), Berthin (44.6 mm), Una (43 mm), Naina Devi (36.4 mm), Gohar (29 mm) and Brahmani (28.4 mm).

The local Met office has issued a yellow warning of heavy rain at isolated places in the State till July 10 (Thursday).

 X/@KanganaTeam via ANI

BJP MP Kangana Ranaut interacts with people during her visit to areas affected by disaster following heavy downpour, at Karsog in Mandi on July 6, 2025. Photo: X/@KanganaTeam via ANI

The estimated losses due to the rains so far stand at around ₹572 crore, as per the SEOC, though the Chief Minister maintained the figure was close to ₹700 crore as data was still being compiled.

Since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, the State has reported 78 deaths, of which 50 were linked to rain-related incidents such as cloudbursts, flash floods and landslips. As many as 121 people have sustained injuries so far.

Published - July 07, 2025 12:36 pm IST

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