Himachal Pradesh rain fury: 2 dead, 2 missing after Mandi experiences heavy rainfall; several roads blocked | Shimla News

MANDI: Two people died and two others were reported missing in Mandi district on Tuesday after relentless overnight rain triggered widespread flooding, landslides, and road blockages in Himachal Pradesh.The downpour, which began around 11pm on Monday and intensified by 4am, caused severe disruption to life and infrastructure in the region.“Due to heavy rain around 4 am, there have been reports of a lot of damage. Two people have died, and two people are reported missing,” municipal commissioner of Mandi, Rohit Rathour said.One of the worst-hit areas was the Zonal Hospital in Mandi, where overflow from nearby drains flooded the premises, forcing authorities to close the main access road.Landslides across the district have blocked several internal roads, cutting off localities and endangering residents in vulnerable zones. The Chandigarh–Manali National Highway (NH-3) was blocked at multiple locations between Mandi and Kullu, leaving several vehicles stranded in long traffic queues.The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) reported that 200 roads remained blocked across the state as of July 28 evening, along with 62 power transformers disrupted and 110 water supply schemes affected due to the ongoing downpour.Statewide, the total death toll in the 2025 monsoon season (from June 20 to July 28) has reached 164. Of these, 90 deaths were directly linked to rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, drowning, and electrocution. The remaining 74 fatalities occurred in road accidents, as per official data.District-wise, Mandi has reported the highest number of fatalities (32), followed by Kangra (24) and Chamba (17). The state has also suffered massive economic losses, with damage to homes, livestock, and public property estimated at over Rs 1,52,311 lakh.The SDMA continues to monitor the situation round-the-clock and has urged citizens to stay vigilant, avoid non-essential travel, and follow official advisories.“Since June 20, the state has witnessed 42 flash floods, 25 cloudbursts, and 32 landslides, resulting in widespread damage to roads, houses, and infrastructure. Mandi district has reported the highest number of rain-related casualties, with 18 deaths, followed by Kangra (17 deaths), Kullu (10 deaths), and Chamba (eight deaths),” as per the statement.Over 251 houses have been completely damaged, and another 1,165 have sustained partial damage due to ongoing rain and floods. Agricultural and horticultural crops have also suffered major losses.Authorities have intensified road clearance operations, deployed disaster response teams, and issued alerts in vulnerable regions. However, intermittent heavy rainfall continues to hinder relief and recovery efforts.(With inputs from agencies)