Nature’s Fury in Himachal: 261 Roads Shut, NDRF on Alert, Relief Ops Stalled by Relentless Rains

National News: Continuous heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours has brought life to a standstill in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district. Widespread landslides and flooding have worsened the situation, with the Kiratpur-Manali Four-Lane Highway being the worst affected. The Pandoh to Takoli stretch of the highway has been completely shut down due to major landslides at three separate locations.

In these areas, debris is still falling, making vehicular movement impossible. One of the most critical damages has occurred near the Larji Power House, where an 840-meter elevated bridge has been compromised. A massive boulder crashed onto the structure, shifting the deck slab nearly 15 cm towards the river, leaving the entire bridge structurally unstable.

Repairs to Begin After Weather Improves

Authorities have stated that repair operations cannot begin until the weather stabilizes, as working in landslide-prone zones amid ongoing rainfall poses serious risks. As per the latest report from the Public Works Department (PWD), 261 roads across the district are currently blocked. The worst-hit regions include:

• Dharampur Mandal—60 roads
• Sarkaghat—36
• Thalout—34
• Karsog–32
• Saraj—32

Additionally, several roads in Sundernagar, Gohar, Mandi-II, Jogindernagar, Paddhar, and Nerchowk divisions are also reported to be inaccessible.

Power Supply Disrupted: 1708 Transformers Out of Service

The relentless rain has also caused severe disruptions to the electricity supply. A total of 1,708 transformers have stopped functioning in various parts of the district. Breakdown statistics are as follows:

• Gohar Mandal—604 transformers
• Karsog – 365
• Mandi – 355
• Dharampur—304
• Sarkaghat—42
• Sundernagar—24
• Jogindernagar—14

The administration has emphasized that until weather conditions improve, restoration in landslide-hit zones will remain suspended. Teams from the NDRF, SDRF, and PWD are currently deployed and on high alert, but adverse weather continues to hinder relief and recovery operations.

NHAI: Monitoring Closely, Restoration Will Be Prioritized

Varun Chari, Project Director at NHAI Mandi, confirmed that the situation is under continuous observation. As soon as the weather allows, restoration of the highway infrastructure will be undertaken on a priority basis.

High Alert in Riverbank Villages

Villages located along the riverbanks are also under threat. The administration has issued alerts in vulnerable areas around Pandoh, Larji, Aut, and Takoli, urging residents to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary movement. In affected regions, primary schools have been converted into temporary relief shelters, where the displaced are being provided with food, medicine, and essential supplies.

Given the seriousness of the situation, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has instructed local officials to maintain maximum vigilance across all high-risk zones.