Havoc in Himachal: 69 Dead, 37 Missing, Over 150 Homes Washed Away in Massive Cloudburst

The state of Himachal Pradesh is reeling under the impact of severe monsoon-triggered devastation since June 20. Torrential rains, cloudbursts, and flash floods have led to the tragic loss of 69 lives, while 37 individuals remain unaccounted for. Multiple rescue teams are actively working in the affected regions to locate the missing and provide aid to survivors.

Leaders from both the ruling party and the opposition have been visiting disaster-hit areas. Devastating scenes have unfolded as residents share their grief—some have lost family members, while others have seen their homes swept away. Locals are pleading with authorities to implement permanent safeguards, asking, “How long will we continue to abandon our homes to survive?”

Mandi District Among Worst-Hit: Two More Bodies Found

On Thursday, search teams in Mandi recovered two additional bodies, increasing the district’s death toll to 13. Ten separate cloudburst incidents were reported in Mandi on Tuesday alone. Authorities confirmed multiple flash floods and at least one landslide during the period. Seven bodies were retrieved in Gohar, five in Thunag, and one from the Karsog area.

Massive Loss of Property

The scale of destruction is enormous. Over 150 residential buildings, 104 cattle shelters, 31 vehicles, and 14 bridges have been damaged or destroyed. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), 162 animals perished in the disaster, and 370 people—primarily from Mandi—have been rescued. Emergency shelters have been established, and efforts are ongoing to restore access to key regions.

The Manali-Keylong highway has been rendered impassable due to flooding, forcing traffic diversions through Rohtang Pass. Personnel and equipment from the Border Roads Organization (BRO) have been deployed to clear blocked roads.

Over 260 Roads Shut, Power and Water Disrupted

Heavy rainfall has led to the closure of 261 roads, with 186 in Mandi district alone. Additionally, the flooding has disrupted 599 electricity transformers and affected 797 water supply systems. On Wednesday, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Opposition Leader Jai Ram Thakur toured the worst-affected zones. The Chief Minister assured residents that any available government land would be allotted to families who lost their homes.

Estimated Loss at Rs 500 Crore

The SEOC reports that since June 20, the state has witnessed 69 fatalities due to monsoon-related disasters, while 37 people are still missing. Additionally, 110 individuals have sustained injuries and are receiving medical care. The overall damage is estimated to be around ₹500 crore. The casualties include 14 deaths due to cloudbursts, eight in flash floods, and seven people swept away by strong currents.